AI Adoption in Japan Falls Short of 10%: A Sign of Economic Decline?

As Japanese companies suffer from severe labor shortages, an aging population, and chronic low productivity, an analysis has emerged showing they are falling behind global trends by maintaining a cautious stance on adopting artificial intelligence.

BBC reported that a recent survey by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) showed the AI adoption rate among Japanese workers stands at just 8.4%.

This is a drastically low figure compared to major countries such as the United States and Singapore at 50%, and the United Kingdom at 32%.

Experts attribute this slow pace of change primarily to Japan's uniquely conservative and risk-averse corporate culture.

An American startup founder pointed out, "Japan is particularly intolerant of mistakes made by AI in the workplace," adding, "Some places would rather leave positions vacant than entrust work to machines."

Digital transformation remains at a primitive level in some sectors, such as healthcare, which still relies heavily on massive amounts of paper documents.

Although the Japanese government passed the AI Promotion Act last year to encourage corporate investment, the response from the field remains lukewarm.

Low digital technology utilization skills and a chronic shortage of IT personnel are also major hurdles.

Professor Yasushi Ogasawara of Meiji University diagnosed, "Japan will face a shortage of about 800,000 IT workers by 2030," and noted, "Because companies are extremely reluctant to lay off workers or lose jobs due to the introduction of AI, bold structural reforms are practically difficult in a Japanese society that prioritizes maintaining full employment."

Professor Ogasawara pointed out, "Japanese society only desires pain-free reforms," adding, "Unless it is willing to endure a certain level of confusion and growing pains, improving national productivity, which is a national task, will remain a distant goal."

As Japanese companies suffer from severe labor shortages, an aging population, and chronic low productivity, an analysis has emerged showing they are falling behind global trends by maintaining a cautious stance on adopting artificial intelligence.

BBC reported that a recent survey by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) showed the AI adoption rate among Japanese workers stands at just 8.4%.

This is a drastically low figure compared to major countries such as the United States and Singapore at 50%, and the United Kingdom at 32%.

Experts attribute this slow pace of change primarily to Japan's uniquely conservative and risk-averse corporate culture.

An American startup founder pointed out, "Japan is particularly intolerant of mistakes made by AI in the workplace," adding, "Some places would rather leave positions vacant than entrust work to machines."

Digital transformation remains at a primitive level in some sectors, such as healthcare, which still relies heavily on massive amounts of paper documents.

Although the Japanese government passed the AI Promotion Act last year to encourage corporate investment, the response from the field remains lukewarm.

Low digital technology utilization skills and a chronic shortage of IT personnel are also major hurdles.

Professor Yasushi Ogasawara of Meiji University diagnosed, "Japan will face a shortage of about 800,000 IT workers by 2030," and noted, "Because companies are extremely reluctant to lay off workers or lose jobs due to the introduction of AI, bold structural reforms are practically difficult in a Japanese society that prioritizes maintaining full employment."

Professor Ogasawara pointed out, "Japanese society only desires pain-free reforms," adding, "Unless it is willing to endure a certain level of confusion and growing pains, improving national productivity, which is a national task, will remain a distant goal."
Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Kim Min-ji | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.