Japan aims to boost public AI use

AI adoption will extend across ministries and agencies as Japan seeks to accelerate innovation and build a cohesive ecosystem for future digital competitiveness.

Japan intends to raise public AI usage to 80% and attract large private investment to strengthen domestic innovation and narrow the technological gap with the US and China.

Japan has drafted a new basic programme aimed at dramatically increasing public use of AI, with a target of raising utilisation from 50% to 80%. The government hopes the policy will strengthen domestic AI capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign technologies.

To support innovation, authorities plan to attract roughly ¥1 trillion in private investment, funding research, talent development and the expansion of AI businesses into emerging markets. Officials see AI as a core social infrastructure that supports both intellectual and practical functions.

The draft proposes a unified AI ecosystem where developers, chip makers and cloud providers collaborate to strengthen competitiveness and reduce Japan’s digital trade deficit. AI adoption is also expected to extend across all ministries and government agencies.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has pledged to make Japan the easiest country in the world for AI development and use. The Cabinet is expected to approve the programme before the end of the year, paving the way for accelerated research and public-private investment.

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