{
  "id": 710596,
  "title": "Why Japanese firms are being so slow to use AI",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/why-japanese-firms-are-being-so-slow-to-use-ai",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-12T23:00:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC Technology",
    "slug": "bbc-technology",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwymw4434v7o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Japanese firms are lagging behind in the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), despite facing acute labour shortages, an ageing population and productivity challenges. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report indicates that just 8.4% of Japanese workers utilize AI in their work, compared to 50% in the United States and 32% in the United Kingdom. The situation is so concerning that Japan's response to AI resembles the slow-moving, traditional Noh plays, with all actors agreeing on urgency but remaining frozen in place. The reluctance to adopt AI is attributed to Japanese companies' conservative nature and risk aversion, as well as their tolerance for AI mistakes being close to zero in client-facing roles. Some firms would rather leave roles unfilled than let machines handle them. The US, by contrast, has a more entrepreneurial culture and allows AI agents more freedom, gradually integrating them into workflows. Japanese companies demand more proof before trusting AI, while the Japanese government is trying to encourage AI adoption through the AI Promotion Act, aiming to become the world's most-friendly country for AI development and utilization. However, critics argue that AI adoption is limited, with only a small percentage of staff using the technology for low-risk tasks. Japan's workforce also suffers from low digital literacy, and many companies struggle with outdated computer systems, which may hinder the implementation of AI. Despite the government's efforts to promote AI and address the human resource issue, change in Japan remains limited due to the expectation of painless reform.",
  "summary": "Japanese risk aversion and conservatism blamed for slow AI take-up by the country's business sector.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Business",
        "title": "Why Japanese firms are being so slow to use AI",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/why-japanese-firms-are-being-so-slow-to-use-ai-711584",
        "published": "2026-08-12T23:00:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Economic Times Tech",
        "title": "Strong majority of Japanese firms have yet to fully embrace AI: Reuters poll",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/strong-majority-of-japanese-firms-have-yet-to-fully-embrace-ai",
        "published": "2026-08-13T02:53:54.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}