Beyond AI implementation: Introducing JDLA's initiatives
This presentation by the Japan Deep Learning Association (JDLA) details Japan's strategy for accelerating AI adoption. It covers the government's strong pro-AI stance driven by demographic challenges, the critical need for corporate AI governance, and the rise of physical AI in robotics. JDLA's core initiatives are highlighted, including the G- and E-Certificate programs for talent development, which are increasingly becoming corporate standards, and the establishment of the AI Robot Association (AIROA) to build a foundational data infrastructure for robotics.
The Japan Deep Learning Association (JDLA), established in 2017, is an industry organization dedicated to the industrial and societal implementation of Deep Learning. Chaired by Professor Matsuo, the association focuses on the practical business application of AI. Its core activities revolve around a virtuous cycle: fostering understanding and learning, enabling the creation of practical use cases, and sharing these successes to encourage wider adoption. This is supported by building communities for collaborative learning and driving standardization efforts, particularly in crucial areas like AI governance.
Japan’s Pro-AI Stance and Governance
The Japanese government is aggressively promoting AI, aiming to become “the country where AI is easiest to develop and utilize in the world.” This push is a direct response to a declining labor population, viewing AI as a necessary tool to maintain productivity. Key initiatives include:
- The AI Strategy Council and the AI Strategy Headquarters to drive national policy.
- The passage of an AI Act and the establishment of advisory boards within the government.
- The removal of “analog regulations” (e.g., requirements for physical presence, paper documents, or manual visual inspection), legally paving the way for digital and AI-driven processes.
The key message from the government and industry leaders is that not using AI is the biggest risk. The threat has shifted from a vague fear of the technology to the concrete risk of falling behind competitors. To manage this, the focus must be on establishing robust internal AI governance frameworks. JDLA supports this by providing developer guidelines and educational seminars. The presentation also highlights the Hiroshima AI Process (HAIP), a global initiative for reporting on AI governance methodologies, which Japanese companies are encouraged to join.
The Rise of Physical AI and Robotics
Advancements are not limited to intellectual labor. The convergence of AI and robotics, termed “Physical AI,” is enabling general-purpose robots capable of performing flexible tasks, much like foundation models revolutionized language processing. The primary bottleneck is the lack of robotics data. To address this, the AI Robot Association (AIROA) was recently established with JDLA’s support. AIROA aims to create a shared data infrastructure and foundational models for robotics, fostering a collaborative ecosystem that includes major players from automotive (Toyota, Nissan), hardware (Hitachi), cloud (AWS), and AI (Abeja) industries.
Talent Development: The G and E Certificates
A major barrier to AI adoption is a lack of understanding of how to use it. To solve this, JDLA promotes an “Era of All-AI Human Resources” through its certification program:
- G-Certificate (Generalist): For business leaders and professionals to understand AI’s potential and applications.
- E-Certificate (Engineer): For engineers to demonstrate deep technical implementation skills.
Combined, there are now over 120,000 certificate holders in Japan. These certifications are gaining significant traction in the corporate world:
- Companies like Mitsubishi Corporation and Suzuki have made the G-Certificate a requirement for employee promotion.
- Firms such as SoftBank are reporting the number of certified employees in their investor relations materials as a measure of human capital.
Community and Call to Action
JDLA fosters the Community of Deep Learning Evangelists (CDLE), Japan’s largest AI talent community, to support certificate holders in their professional journey. The association encourages all professionals to pursue certification, highlighting that exam availability has been expanded to accommodate corporate schedules. The ultimate goal is to create a workforce where every member is an evangelist for AI, driving company-wide adoption and innovation.