OpenAI enters Asia with its first office in Japan
What's the story
OpenAI, a leading player in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry, has expanded its global footprint by opening its first Asian office in Tokyo, Japan.
The decision to choose Tokyo was influenced by the city's international reputation for technological leadership and innovation-friendly culture.
Tadao Nagasaki has been appointed as the president of OpenAI Japan and will be responsible for leading commercial and market engagement initiatives.
Innovation
OpenAI introduces custom GPT-4 model for Japanese businesses
OpenAI is offering an exclusive opportunity to Japanese businesses with a custom GPT-4 model, specifically fine-tuned for the Japanese language.
This advanced model provides enhanced performance in tasks such as text translation and summarization.
It is also cost-effective and operates up to three times faster than its predecessor.
The introduction of this model aligns with OpenAI's mission to bring AI benefits to a broader audience.
Adoption
OpenAI's technology boosts productivity in Japanese local governments
OpenAI's AI chatbot, ChatGPT, is being adopted by local governments in Japan to enhance their services.
In Yokosuka City, for instance, almost all city employees have access to ChatGPT. According to OpenAI, 80% of these employees have experienced a productivity boost due to this technology.
"We're excited to be in Japan which has a rich history of people and technology coming together to do more," said Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI.
Alignment
OpenAI's expansion aligns with Japan's emerging AI market
OpenAI's expansion into Japan coincides with a period when the US is urging its allies, including Japan, to curb exports of advanced chipmaking technology to China.
This move is seen as an attempt to hinder China's AI development.
OpenAI's entry into Japan mirrors similar moves by other tech giants like Microsoft and Google, highlighting Japan's growing potential as an AI market.