By Kiyoshi Takenaka
TOKYO (Reuters) – Nearly a quarter of Japanese companies have implemented artificial intelligence (AI) in their businesses, while more than 40% have no plan to adopt the cutting-edge technology, a Reuters survey showed on Thursday.
The survey, conducted for Reuters by Research, asked a series of questions to 506 companies between July 3 and 12, to which about 250 companies responded on condition of anonymity.
About 24% of respondents said they have already introduced AI into their businesses and 35% plan to do so, while the remaining 41% have no such plans, reflecting the varying degrees of adoption of technological innovation in Japanese business illustrates.
Asked about objectives in adopting AI in a question that allowed multiple answers, 60% of respondents said they were trying to cope with a shortage of workers, while 53% focused on reducing labor costs and 36% called an acceleration of research and development.
Regarding the obstacles to the introduction, a manager of a transport company mentioned “anxiety among employees about a possible reduction in staff”.
Other obstacles include a lack of technological expertise, significant capital expenditure and reliability concerns, the study found.
The poll also found that 15% of respondents experienced cyber attacks in the past year and 9% had business partners who experienced cyber attacks in the same period.
When asked about the damage, 23% of those who suffered cyber attacks themselves or had business partners who were targeted said operations had been temporarily halted, and 4% said there had been information leaks.
In terms of steps to improve cybersecurity, 47% of respondents said they outsourced defense, while 38% said they had in-house specialists.
Victims of cyber attacks in recent months have included high-profile publisher Kadokawa, whose case prompted the government to work to strengthen cybersecurity measures.
The survey also found that half of companies are in favor of a change in the law that requires spouses to use the same surname. In more than nine in 10 marriages, women take them from their husbands, a practice that opponents say takes away part of a woman’s identity and burdens them with the enormous amount of paperwork needed to make the change.
The issue came to renewed attention after Keidanren’s business lobby last month asked the government to allow married people to keep their surnames.
In the survey, 50% of respondents said they supported such a change in the law, while 11% were against.
“The current system damages the dignity and freedom of individuals – especially women,” wrote a machine factory manager. An official at a steelmaker called change the “natural demand of the times.”
An executive at a non-ferrous metals manufacturer countered that allowing separate surnames could “weaken family ties.”
When asked how a change in law would impact their business, 14% of respondents said it would boost employee morale and 10% said it would boost recruitment activity, while 56% said they expected no impact.
