Japan's Chip Technology to Accelerate AI Medical Imaging

Oct 20, 2026 | News On Japan

TOKYO - A Japanese semiconductor research consortium involving Rapidus and Fujifilm has announced plans to develop an artificial intelligence system for processing medical images using cutting-edge 2-nanometer chips, aiming to significantly improve processing speeds while reducing power consumption to support real-time diagnosis and surgical procedures.

The Leading-edge Semiconductor Technology Center (LSTC), a technology research association that includes advanced chipmaker Rapidus, will collaborate with Fujifilm and other partners to develop the system, which is designed to handle complex medical imaging tasks more efficiently.

By incorporating state-of-the-art 2-nanometer semiconductors, the developers expect to achieve substantial improvements in computing performance while keeping energy consumption low, addressing two critical requirements for advanced AI applications in healthcare.

The system is intended to accelerate the processing of medical images, enabling doctors to analyze information in real time during examinations and surgical procedures. Faster image processing could improve the speed and efficiency of medical diagnosis and provide surgeons with more immediate information during operations.

The project is being developed with the planned use of 2-nanometer chips that Rapidus is expected to manufacture under contract for U.S. technology company IBM in the second half of fiscal 2027, which runs through March 2028.

The collaboration represents an effort to apply Japan's next-generation semiconductor technology to medical AI, combining advanced chip manufacturing with healthcare imaging expertise to support faster and more efficient medical services.

Source: テレ東BIZ

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