【环时深度】从“先驱”到“跟不上步伐”，日本反思AI落后

Core Viewpoint - Japan is reflecting on its lagging position in AI development compared to the US and China, despite its historical contributions to the field during the first AI boom from the 1950s to 1970s [1][2] Group 1: Historical Context - Japan's AI research began in the 1950s, contributing significantly to advancements in natural language processing, speech recognition, and image processing [1] - The "Fifth Generation Computer Systems" project launched in 1982 aimed to create a "supercomputer" capable of reasoning and learning, but it failed to deliver expected results and was terminated in 1992, leading to a stagnation in AI research [2][3] - From the 1990s to the early 2000s, Japan's focus on manufacturing overshadowed the importance of software and services, causing it to miss opportunities in the internet revolution [3][4] Group 2: Current Challenges - Japan's AI development is hindered by a lack of digital workforce, high legal barriers, and conservative capital investment, with only 26.7% of the population having used generative AI by 2024 [5][6] - The aging population and declining birth rates contribute to a shortage of talent and acceptance of AI technologies, with low usage rates among younger demographics [7][8] - Japan's strict data protection laws complicate the creation of effective training datasets for AI, limiting the potential for innovation [9] Group 3: Government and Industry Response - The Japanese government has initiated several strategies to boost AI development, including the "e-Japan Strategy" and recent AI legislation aimed at elevating AI to a national strategic priority [4][10] - There is a call for increased investment in AI education and attracting global talent to address the skills gap, with only 12 universities offering dedicated data science programs [8][11] - Collaborative efforts between government and industry, such as the "Manufacturing AI Visual Inspection Plan," aim to enhance AI integration in various sectors [11][12]