News On Japan

Japanese AI is Amazing: An Interview with AI Researcher Hiroaki Kano

Mar 25 (News On Japan) - This show explores how Japanese AI is evolving and introduces a guest, Hiroaki Kano, CEO of Yokokawa Digital and a former Microsoft engineer with a Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo.

The discussion centers on different types of AI, including deep learning AI used for image recognition, and generative AI like ChatGPT that responds to user queries based on internet knowledge.

Kano highlights a Japanese-developed AI framework called FKDP, which learns through trial and error, similar to how humans develop intuition and experience. Unlike traditional AIs that only analyze data or text, FKDP can mimic the decision-making of craftspeople—for example, adjusting salt levels when making pickled plums, or learning how to carve wood like a skilled carpenter.

This AI is already in practical use, such as in chemical plants, where it has operated continuously for two years, performing control tasks more effectively than human operators. It’s also being tested for creating complex recipes, like beer brewing, by learning from temperature changes and experimenting on its own.

Kano stresses that this kind of AI is not meant to replace humans, but rather to assist and enhance human skills. He draws comparisons to AlphaGo, the AI that defeated the Go world champion, who then used the experience to further improve his own skills. He believes AI can inspire new possibilities rather than make humans obsolete.

The conversation also touches on the current limits of AI. For instance, while generative AIs have read most of the content on the internet, they are reaching a saturation point where there isn’t much new data left to learn from. AI systems don’t truly “understand” what they process—they manipulate language patterns, like solving word puzzles, rather than having real comprehension or emotions.

Kano believes that true human qualities, such as empathy and the ability to physically experience the world, remain beyond AI’s reach for now. While AI might seem to have personality or feelings, it's really a reflection of clever design and our own projections. Whether AI will ever gain emotions or consciousness remains an open question even among experts.

The segment ends with a mention of Kano’s new book on “AI-First” practices using strong AI, encouraging deeper exploration of the subject.

Source: 上泉雄一のええなぁ!

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

The Japanese government will begin issuing blue tickets for bicycle traffic violations in April 2026, with fines including 5,000 yen for ignoring stop signs and up to 12,000 yen for riding while using a smartphone.

A 26-year-old woman was arrested in the early hours of April 24th in Kasuya Town, Fukuoka Prefecture, on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. While admitting to the offense, she claimed, "I ate chocolate that contained alcohol."

A man found wandering naked in Saitama Prefecture has been arrested after a string of violent incidents, including a fatal hit-and-run and an attempted abduction, unfolded within roughly 90 minutes on April 21st.

The total number of visitors to Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai surpassed one million on April 23rd, just 11 days after the event began. Despite being a weekday, the venue remained crowded, with long lines forming at popular pavilions such as the one from the United States.

At the Shanghai Motor Show, which opened to the press on April 23rd ahead of its public run from April 27th to May 2nd, Toyota Motor Corporation revealed a series of new models, including a new electric vehicle, as it works to regain ground in the increasingly competitive Chinese market.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Web3 NEWS

At the Osaka-Kansai Expo, a uniquely shaped robot is helping guide people with visual impairments.

A major social media backlash is unfolding over a historic shrine in Kyoto City, prompting a barrage of angry messages including threats such as "I’ll curse you" and "I’ll beat you to death."

Mahjong is gaining popularity in Japan, recognized as both a professional sport with growing international recognition and a casual hobby.

Hokkaido authorities held a countermeasure meeting with related agencies to discuss efforts to prevent bear-related damage, including the use of artificial intelligence to monitor bear populations.

In this video, we break down the jaw-dropping discovery made by a quantum AI system — one that led Michio Kaku to say we may have uncovered the "mind of the universe." Is this artificial intelligence decoding the source code of reality… or waking something up? (Spacialize)

As Meta fine-tunes its Llama artificial intelligence (AI) models on global data and OpenAI deepens its enterprise integration, Asia’s middle powers face mounting pressure to shape their own technological futures. (East Asia Forum)

"Time is money—how are you using yours?" When it comes to short-term investing, the window to achieve significant returns is often smaller than many expect.

Japan’s deep-rooted love for tuna, one of the world’s most consumed fish in the country, is entering a new phase—powered by artificial intelligence.