More than 40% of Japanese companies have no plan to make use of Artificial Intelligence
Nearly a quarter of Japanese organisations have implemented AI, while more than 40% have no ambitions to do so. 60% of respondents used artificial intelligence to address a labour shortage. Cyberattacks harmed 15% of respondents, resulting in temporary company disruptions and information exposures.
However, more than 40% of the surveyed organisations had no plans to adopt this cutting-edge technology.
The poll, which took place from July 3 to 12 and included responses from around 250 companies, revealed the varied degrees of AI use in corporate Japan. Out of the respondents, 24% have already implemented AI in their organisations, while 35% want to do so in the future. However, a sizable 41% have no intention of using AI.
When asked about the reasons for adopting AI, 60% of respondents said they were trying to deal with a labour shortage. In addition, 53% wanted to reduce staff expenses, while 36% wanted to accelerate research and development.
Despite the potential benefits, there are various barriers to the implementation of AI. A manager at a transportation company raised concern about "anxiety among employees over possible headcount reduction." Other challenges include a lack of technological competence, a significant capital investment, and concerns about reliability.
The survey also provided information on the cybersecurity landscape in Japanese businesses. It was discovered that 15% of respondents had experienced cyberattacks in the previous year, while 9% had business partners who had been victims of cyberattacks during the same time period. Of those affected, 23% reported temporary business closures, while 4% experienced information leaks.
To improve cybersecurity measures, 47% of respondents said they outsourced defence, while 38% used in-house expertise.
In addition to AI and cybersecurity, the study discussed the possibility of modifying the legislation requiring spouses to have the same surname. Currently, women assume their husband's surname in more than 90% of weddings, which opponents believe deprives them of part of their identity and burdens them with unnecessary paperwork. The Keidanren business lobby has asked the government to let married people keep their surnames.
The survey found that 50% of respondents favoured such a legislative change, while only 11% opposed it. Supporters contended that the current system undermines people's dignity and freedom, while opponents feared that granting different surnames would destroy family relationships.
When questioned about the potential impact of a change in the legislation on their firms, 14% anticipated it would raise employee morale and 10% thought it would increase hiring activity. However, the majority, 56%, predicted little impact.
Nearly a quarter of Japanese companies have adopted AI, while over 40% have no plans to use it.
60% of respondents adopted AI to cope with a shortage of workers.
Cyberattacks affected 15% of respondents, leading to temporary business halts and information leaks.
Source: REUTERS