Japan’s Love Affair with AI Learning
Japan is of two minds on the rise of Artificial Intelligence. The government recognized the country was a late starter and wanted to catch up. The Prime Minister met with Mark Zuckerberg and Sam Alman in 2023. In 2024, OpenAI opened its first Asia office in Japan. A government panel has interpreted the Copyright Law to allow liberal use of copyrighted material for the training of AI systems (in other words, for AI learning). That practice is still a matter of contention in the United States.
On the other hand, creators and entertainment companies have expressed concern that AI will enfeeble them. In particular, manga, anime, movies, and games have contributed mightily to the coffers of the country and enhanced its soft power. If a permissive attitude toward AI training leads to a decline in the contents industry, the government will have sacrificed a proven economic and cultural resource for the possibility of greater returns from a new one.