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AI & Enterprise
Japan digital minister warns of \'AI colony\' as government considers using sensitive data without consent
Japan is pushing a legal revision that would allow sensitive personal data such as medical records and criminal histories to be used for artificial intelligence development without the individual’s consent. Digital Minister Hisashi Matsumoto said Japan could become an “AI colony” if it fails to narrow the gap with global rivals. The bill has passed the lower house and awaits review in the upper house, with opposition parties warning it could weaken safeguards and raise data-leak risks.
AI & Enterprise
Japan joins U.S. AI project Genesis Mission to co-invest $1 billion over five years
Japan will join the U.S. government’s artificial intelligence research project Genesis Mission as its first overseas partner. The two countries plan to invest $1 billion over five years to jointly develop technology to accelerate scientific research. Senior officials from Japan’s education and industry ministries are to visit the United States in early June and officially announce cooperation measures with the Department of Energy, which oversees the programme.
AI & Enterprise
Japan AI latecomer starts counterattack with Nvidia, SoftBank, Microsoft big tech alliance
Japanese companies are expanding cooperation with global big tech to strengthen artificial intelligence competitiveness. Station Ai is running an AI Boost Program with SoftBank and Nvidia to support five startups, offering free access to high-performance GPUs and engineering help. Microsoft plans to invest 1.6 trillion yen in Japan from 2026 to 2029. SoftBank, NEC, Honda and Sony Group will set up a joint venture to develop foundation models, while the government plans 1 trillion yen in support.
