Artificial Intelligence (AI) Startup Revolution in Japan

Artificial Intelligence in Japan is looking to assist human first and foremost. The whole notion of AI is to assist human first and Robotics infused with AI, is great example in this direction. In last 15 years Japanese companies worked hard in the field of robotics engineering and introduced great robots i.e. AIBO, ASIMO, HARRY, HRP-4C, TELENOID, ROBEAR, ARISA, KODOMORIDE, MIRAI MADOKA, ERICA, KIROBO. In recent years most of the robotics industry is try to mimic the features and action of humans into these robots. Some of these robots really look like humans as shown below:

Even when Japan has a great track record and great results in robotics, however Japanese companies and technologies is not the leader in the fields of AI. Now it seems the dialog will be changed going forward.

Assistance from Japanese Government:

As suggested by Japan Times, for the fiscal 2018 budget, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has earmarked ￥39.3 billion for developing robot-related technologies and AI chips for next-generation computers, while the labor ministry has set aside ￥19.6 billion for applying AI to medical data management and pharmaceutical research. The government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is promoting AI to improve productivity amid an acute labor shortage and a rapidly graying population.

AI Spring in Japan:

My previous article AI Spring in Japan talks about how existing companies along with startups are bootstrapping their foothold in the field of AI while Japanese government is assisting them in their quest to meet the need of Japanese population and business.

Automation and Robotics:

Japanese automotive industry is almost autonomous where large robots are already producing the maximum results and Japanese automakers did bring their robotics experience to the general public by building several autonomous robots to assist humans. The following CES 2018 promotional image is from Honda 3E which stands for Empower, Experience and Empathy, where they actually showed these concept design to the people.

However in last decade or more, Japanese robotics engineers and technology companies are looking to replace the repetitive jobs done by humans with robots, that is their first and foremost goal. The robots are currently being tested to provide social companionship for generation of all kind however first start with seniors, or to assist aging population through helper robots in field. The other areas where robots are being tested are the jobs like receptionist, care givers, little companions.

Robotic exports to China grew from over $3 billion in 2012 to nearly $4.5 billion in 2016, and are predicted to reach $6.8 billion by the end of 2017. Because of robotics growth in China specially into manufacturing second, Japanese robotics companies are benefiting.

The scene of Japan Startups in AI:

Japanese startups and some of the established organization are taking the charge to bring AI into main stream technologies outside Robotics. Applications of AI in business, communication, powers, transportation and education & entertainment are very areas where these companies are creating massive values. The great example of using Deep Learning in popular Manga (animation) industry is PaintsChainer application from Preferred Networks who is behind Chainer, a neural network engine for deep learning.

AI based startups in Japan:

Here is the list of key Japanese startups and technology companies with some of the details on how the are paving the way for AI in Japan:

Preferred Network

• The team behind popular Deep Learning Library Chainer
• Funded by Fanuc, Hitachi, Mizuho Bank, Mitsui & Co.
• The Team behind PaintsChainer, a manga coloring engine based on deep learning
• Successfully completed AI projects for Toyota, Fanuc and others top companies

PKSHA Technology

• Established products in natural language communication & processing, customer services
• Customer behavior prediction engine and ML based CRM solution

Brainpad

• Primarily into Financial Data Analytics, Data Mining, and Prediction Services
• Also provide Data management tools for customer segmentation as DaltaCube
• MyndPlus is integrated natural language processing engine also provided to customers
• Also provided services into system integration and digital marketing services

ABEJA

• Creator of Dx Suite – AI based Application to accelerate digital transformation
• AI OCR and RPS solution using Deep Learning (https://inside.ai/dx_lp/)
• ABEJA also have AI Inside Platform which could be difference maker

Lpixel

• Founded in 2014 by 3 researchers from Tokyo University
• Life Science and Imaging technology to provide imaging library

Albert Inc.

• Recently released Proactive AI based chatbot in collaboration with AlfaCom.
• Data management, Data Analytics, AI/ML projects, DS Training

OPTiM

• Secure Mobile access and Sharing,
• Smart Agriculture using AI, IoT in partnership with SoftBank

HeteroDB

• GPU powered data bases server with data collection, analytics, visualization
• Also supported statistical anomaly detection in GPU with in financial data

MDR Co.

• Leading the ways for Quantum Computing in Japan with custom zhip
• Wildcat QDK (Quantum Development Kit), A Python SDK to make quantum computing easier for everyone

Future Standard

• Imaging and Computer Vision
• Imaging back end server in cloud (AWS and Azure) to process large array of images

DATUM

• A company to combine the computation of Big Data and smartness of AI
• Consulting Services for Big Data and cloud along with Data Science

Hmcomm

• Very much devoted for Voice Recognition AI and productizing it
• Service built around voice recognition platform to support IoT & Robotics technology

UEI Corporation

• Deep Learning consulting services
• Services includes image classification, training, consulting and deep learning guidance

Cross Compass (xcompass)

• Founded in 2015 with a team of ~25 AI engineers now XC is doing great job in the field of AI, and one of the great example of AI startup in Japan
• XC is trying to take over the manufacturing industry with their Core AI core engine and a platform built top of it.
• Machine Learning Platform for manufacturing industry called M-IX

Ridge-I

• A Deep Learning consulting with expertise into image processing
• Currently having a project with NHK TV for B&W image coloring and object detection

MICIN

• MICIN stands for Medical Information company for innovation, which means MICIN is in healthcare field
• Health Care industry with smart clinical platform application to assist doctors and patients

Daignosis

• Another Healthcare Startup in Japan founded in 2017
• Healthcare with services i.e AI x Healthcare, AI x Dialogue, AI x Medical

Freee

• Founded in 2012 with the mind to provide Accounting software to Japanese people and business
• ERP and accounting software with SaaS offering is growing very fast..
• With over 450 employees, a shining examples of success with SaaS based accounting startup.

Inside.ai

• Creator of Dx Suite – AI based Application to accelerate digital transformation
• AI OCR and RPS solution using Deep Learning (https://inside.ai/dx_lp/)
• They also have AI Inside Platform (We should check it out)

I think the future of AI in Japan is great and Japan as country would be greatly benefitted from the advancement into AI.

Thanks for reading!

@avkashchauhan

Suggested Reading:

• Japan: building the future, living in the past?
• AI spiring in Japan