Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is reportedly looking to expand the Asian country's tech sector by lobbying for support and investments from American executives, assuring it would benefit the two countries.
During a luncheon with American CEOs in Washington, the Prime Minister expressed that Japan appreciates American cooperation in crucial and developing technology.
(Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images) Japan, the US, and the Philippines forge a cyber defense alliance to combat rising cyber threats, emphasizing information sharing and joint efforts.
He continues by saying that the economic expansion the nation experiences due to US investments will provide the capital for additional US investments made by Japanese companies, assuring them that any investment will benefit both countries.
In advance of a meeting with President Joe Biden on Wednesday that is anticipated to center on defense and economic relations, Kishida is in the US. According to Kishida, Japan became the largest foreign investor in the US last year with over $750 billion in foreign direct investment, generating over a million employment.
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Microsoft's Japan Investments
Kishida's remarks coincide with Microsoft Corporation's announcement that it will invest $2.9 billion in Japan's artificial intelligence industry over the next two years. This is the largest investment Microsoft has made in Japan and demonstrates the company's strategic focus on advancing AI technology in that nation.
According to Microsoft President Brad Smith, the investment will mostly go toward building more data centers in Japan, emphasizing boosting processing capacity for artificial intelligence applications.
This project also aligns with Tokyo's attempts to fortify its AI infrastructure in the face of escalating international competition. Smith underlined AI's crucial role in boosting productivity development, especially in nations like Japan, which are seeing a decrease in the labor force.
As part of the investment plan, Microsoft plans to install cutting-edge AI semiconductors at two of its current locations in eastern and western Japan. This move will allow Japan to access cutting-edge AI technology and spur innovation in several economic sectors.
US and Japan Against Potential Threats
As Washington and Tokyo work to modernize their political and military relationship, their corporate ties are becoming tighter. Both are keeping a lookout for regional dangers, which range from China's assertiveness in the South China Sea and against Taiwan to North Korea's nuclear testing and strengthening ties with Russia.
Microsoft has disclosed a study alerting us to China's plans to manipulate elections in the US, South Korea, and India this year using AI-generated content.
As voters prepare for elections, Microsoft cybersecurity experts anticipate that North Korean and Chinese cyber actors will try to sway results in South Korea, India, and the US.
At the very least, Microsoft anticipates that China will create and disseminate AI-generated content on social media platforms to bolster its position in these crucial elections.
Before his trip, Kishida spoke with CNN in Tokyo and stated that Japan is being forced to alter its defense strategy due to the world reaching a "historic turning point" due to its escalating geopolitical tensions.
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(Photo: Tech Times)
