{
  "id": 3922610,
  "title": "Japan to incorporate AI into the handling of emergency calls",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/japan-to-incorporate-ai-into-the-handling-of-emergency-calls",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-28T07:54:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Japan Times",
    "slug": "japan-times",
    "url": "https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/08/28/japan/emergency-call-operations-ai/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Fire and Disaster Management Agency in Japan plans to introduce artificial intelligence into emergency call handling as part of a model project scheduled to begin in fiscal 2027. The agency aims to use an AI-powered speech recognition system to automatically transcribe calls related to firefighting, rescue, and ambulance services. This initiative is designed to streamline the process of recording call details and alleviate the workload on staff as the number of ambulance dispatches continues to rise. The project will utilize \"vertical AI,\" a specialized form of artificial intelligence tailored to specific fields. In addition to call handling, the AI system will also provide staff with guidance on necessary actions based on the content of each call. Furthermore, the agency intends to incorporate AI into the \"7119\" telephone consultation service, which advises individuals on whether to call an ambulance, automatically offering information such as nearby hospitals. The agency also plans to introduce wearable robots to assist firefighters during rescue operations at disaster or accident sites, reducing the physical burden on personnel when transporting victims. Moreover, fire departments will test AI technology capable of detecting fires through aerial images captured by drones. In July, the government released an interim report detailing its strategy for developing and implementing vertical AI, with a goal of promoting its use in firefighting by 2030.",
  "summary": "The Fire and Disaster Management Agency plans to introduce a system that automatically transcribes emergency calls and assists staff on follow-up action.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}