- Japan Technology Watch
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- JTW Digest, April 23, 2024
JTW Digest, April 23, 2024
Eldar Syzdykov
April 23, 2024
Prime Minister Kishida Proposes International Framework "Hiroshima AI Process Friends Group" to Govern Generative AI
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan is set to announce the establishment of an international framework called the "Hiroshima AI Process Friends Group" at an upcoming Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) meeting in early May. The key aspects of this initiative are:
1. Objective: To balance the discipline and utilization of generative AI (artificial intelligence) by creating international rules and fostering a common understanding among participating countries.
2. Participation: The framework is expected to have more than 40 participating countries, including OECD member states, G7 countries, European Union members, South Korea, and Singapore.
3. Governance: The framework aims to ensure that people around the world have access to safe, secure, and reliable AI by working together to address the risks and benefits of generative AI technologies.
4. Addressing Disinformation: Prime Minister Kishida emphasizes the importance of countering the "dark side" of AI, such as the risk of disinformation, and plans to support the social implementation of sender identification technology called "Originator Profile (OP)."
5. OP Technology: OP is a digital technology that electronically adds authenticated sender information to online content, allowing users to verify the authenticity of articles and advertisements. It is being developed by the OP Technology Research Association, comprising media and telecommunications companies, with commercialization targeted for 2025.
Through this international framework, Japan aims to take a leadership role in establishing global governance for generative AI, balancing its innovative potential with the need to mitigate risks and promote responsible use.
RakutenSurvey Reveals Positive Perceptions and Expectations Towards AI in Daily Life and Work
The survey conducted by Rakuten Insight, Inc. on 900 individuals aged 20 to 69 years old revealed the following key findings about people's perceptions and expectations towards Artificial Intelligence (AI):
1. Over 70% of respondents have a positive impression of AI's involvement in their lives, with the top reason being "Because it saves time" (53.8%).
2. The top perceived image of AI is that it "allows work to proceed efficiently" (43.1%), followed by "It gives me the information I want to know right away" (35.7%) and "Creates new business opportunities" (29.6%).
3. The top task that respondents believe should be left to AI is "product inventory management" (53.7%), while the top task that should be handled by humans is "final decision making" (56.4%).
4. Regarding feelings towards AI, "expectations" topped the list at 31.4%, followed by "curiosity" (21.0%) and "anxiety" (13.4%), indicating a mix of positive and negative sentiments.
5. More than 70% of respondents think that their work will be positively affected by the spread of AI, with 75.2% stating that it will have a positive or somewhat positive impact.
6. While 24.8% of respondents expressed concern about their jobs disappearing due to AI, 44.4% were not worried about this possibility.
7. 40.2% of respondents were proactive about incorporating AI into their work, with those in their 40s being the most proactive age group (45.9%).
The survey highlights the generally positive perceptions and expectations towards AI's involvement in daily life and work, although some concerns and uncertainties regarding its impact on jobs and security remain.
Enhancing Online Shopping Experience with 3D Gaussian Splatting Technology for Realistic Product Visualization
Scroll Co., Ltd., a mail-order company, has adopted a new 3D model technology called "3D Gaussian Splatting" to improve the online shopping experience for its customers. This technology addresses the limitations of the previously used photogrammetry technique for generating 3D models.
The key advantages of 3D Gaussian Splatting over photogrammetry include:
1. Realistic 3D visualization: The technology can reproduce details such as facial expressions, folds in clothing, and transparent materials, providing a more accurate representation of how the product will look when worn.
2. Efficient shooting process: With 50 cameras installed for 360-degree shooting, the shooting time has been reduced from 3 hours to 5-10 minutes, significantly improving work efficiency.
3. Fewer restrictions: Unlike photogrammetry, there are fewer restrictions on the types of objects that can be photographed, allowing for the creation of 3D models with total coordination (outfit combinations).
By implementing 3D Gaussian Splatting, Scroll Co., Ltd. aims to provide an online shopping experience closer to reality, bridging the gap between customers' product expectations and the actual product. This technology allows customers to visualize how clothing items will look when worn, promoting better purchasing decisions and enhancing customer satisfaction.
Scroll Co., Ltd. has developed a unique viewer based on 3D Gaussian Splatting to display and manipulate 3D models on their customer site, providing a stress-free and engaging shopping experience.
Toyota Ventures Invests $300 Million in AI and Decarbonization Initiatives
Toyota Ventures, the U.S. investment arm of Toyota Motor Corporation, has announced significant investments totaling $300 million in two key areas: artificial intelligence (AI) and decarbonization. The investments are divided into two funds:
1. Innovative Technology Fund (TVFFII): $150 million invested in startups focused on AI, robotics, and quantum computing. Initial portfolio companies include Starfish Space (satellite services), Senshan Bio (biosensors), and Haiku (quantum computer software).
2. Climate Change Fund (TVCFII): $150 million invested in startups providing solutions to climate change. Initial portfolio companies include Avalanche Energy (renewable energy), Eazinc and AM Batteries (power storage and battery development), Air Company and Living Carbon (CO2 capture, storage, and utilization), and Hydrogen Solutions (hydrogen energy solutions).
With these investments, Toyota Ventures' total assets will exceed $800 million. Beyond financial support, the company will leverage Toyota Motor Corporation's global network, technical alliances, and strategic collaborations to assist portfolio startups.
Toyota Ventures has invested in over 75 startups since its establishment in 2017, including early investments in Joby Aviation (electric aircraft) and May Mobility (autonomous driving), with whom Toyota continues to collaborate.
This strategic move by Toyota Ventures demonstrates the company's commitment to driving innovation in artificial intelligence and addressing climate change through investments in cutting-edge technologies and startups working towards a sustainable future.
TDK Introduces Wireless Edge AI Sensor Module for Predictive Maintenance Solution
TDK has announced the development of the "i3 Micro Module," a wireless small sensor module equipped with edge AI capabilities, and the launch of the "i3 CbM Solution," a predictive maintenance solution that utilizes this module, in June 2024.
Key features of the i3 Micro Module and i3 CbM Solution:
1. i3 Micro Module:
- World's first wireless compact sensor module with edge AI
- Equipped with vibration and temperature sensors
- Capable of determining state changes using edge AI based on acquired data
- Small, battery-powered design for easy installation without wiring
- Automatically forms a wireless mesh network for efficient operation of multiple modules
2. i3 CbM Solution:
- A predictive maintenance solution for production sites like factories
- Consists of i3 Micro Modules, a network controller, and dedicated software
- Dedicated software quickly aggregates and analyzes data from the modules
- Creates AI models for data-based predictive maintenance
- Enables rapid introduction of predictive maintenance to the field
TDK's new solution leverages edge AI and wireless sensor technology to provide a flexible and efficient predictive maintenance system for industrial applications. By bringing AI capabilities to the edge devices, it enables real-time monitoring and analysis of equipment conditions, allowing for timely maintenance and reducing downtime.
Japanese Government to Subsidize Domestic Supercomputer Development for AI up to 72.5 Billion Yen
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in Japan plans to provide subsidies of up to 72.5 billion yen (approximately $540 million) to five companies, including major telecommunications company KDDI, to support the domestic development of supercomputers necessary for the rapidly growing field of artificial intelligence (AI).
The key points of this initiative are:
1. Background: The development of AI requires high-performance supercomputers capable of advanced calculation processing, but Japan currently lacks such infrastructure and relies heavily on leading American IT companies.
2. Objective: To promote the domestic development of supercomputers for AI, ensuring economic security and reducing dependence on foreign technology.
3. Subsidy details: The government will cover one-third of the cost for large companies and one-half for medium-sized companies in setting up supercomputers for AI development.
4. Target companies: KDDI, a major telecommunications company, as well as IT companies Sakura Internet and GMO Internet Group, are expected to be among the recipients of these subsidies.
By providing significant financial support, the Japanese government aims to strengthen the country's capabilities in AI development and reduce reliance on foreign technologies, which is considered crucial for economic security. This move underscores the importance Japan places on advancing AI and promoting domestic technological innovation.
Tackling the Challenges of 3D Semiconductor Fabrication: The Need for Deeper, Faster, and Precise Etching Equipment
The semiconductor industry is witnessing a shift towards three-dimensional (3D) structures, such as multi-layered NAND flash memory, stacked DRAM, and vertically stacked transistors (GAA FETs and CFETs) in logic devices. This trend towards utilizing vertical space poses new challenges for etching equipment, which plays a crucial role in semiconductor manufacturing.
The key challenges and requirements for etching equipment in 3D semiconductor fabrication include:
1. Increased depth: As semiconductor structures become more vertically integrated, etching equipment needs to be capable of digging deeper holes with high aspect ratios.
2. Faster processing: To improve manufacturing efficiency, etching equipment must be able to perform these deeper etches at a faster rate.
3. Precision and linearity: Maintaining precision and linearity in etching is essential for forming transistors and wiring as designed, even in deep, narrow holes.
4. Selective etching: A new technology called "Selective Etch" has emerged, further adding to the demands on etching equipment.
To address these challenges, semiconductor equipment manufacturers are actively developing new technologies and innovations in etching equipment. The two main etching methods are:
a. Wet etching: This method uses chemicals to corrode thin films but lacks precision and is less suitable for complex 3D structures.
b. Dry etching: This method employs ionized gas to physically or chemically remove thin films and offers higher precision by controlling the direction of ions. The demand for dry etching is increasing due to its suitability for 3D semiconductor fabrication.
Major players in the etching equipment market, such as Lam Research, Tokyo Electron, and Applied Materials, are competing to develop advanced solutions that can meet the stringent requirements of 3D semiconductor manufacturing.
Toyoda Gosei Develops World-Class High-Output UV-C LED for Disinfection Applications
Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. has achieved a significant breakthrough in the development of UV-C (deep ultraviolet) LEDs, which are widely used for disinfection and sterilization purposes. The company has successfully developed a UV-C LED with a world-class light output of 200 milliwatts (when driven with a current of 350 milliamps) on a single chip.
Key highlights:
Improved Performance: By applying their expertise in blue LED crystallization and design technology, Toyoda Gosei has improved the LED element structure and increased the amount of extractable light by approximately four times, resulting in a three-fold increase in sterilization capacity.
Expanded Applications: The high-output UV-C LED opens up new possibilities for replacing mercury lamps in applications where high sterilization performance is required, such as water treatment plants.
Environmental Benefits: UV-C LEDs are mercury-free and have a low environmental impact compared to traditional mercury lamps used for disinfection.
Compact and Long-lasting: UV-C LEDs are compact in size and have a longer lifespan compared to mercury lamps, making them suitable for various disinfection applications, including air and surface sterilization devices.
Toyoda Gosei plans to begin selling samples of its high-output UV-C LED in Japan and overseas markets starting in April 2024. This development is expected to contribute to the realization of a more hygienic, secure, and safe lifestyle by expanding the use of UV-C LEDs for disinfecting water, air, and other applications.