It may come as a surprise but Japan, one the most forward-thinking and technology-savvy countries in Asia, isn’t people-ready for the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. While its prime minister Shinzo Abe recently pledged to train 250,000 people with AI skills by 2025, many think this is too little, too late.
A wide range of companies are now boosting their own AI capabilities by increasing pay for the right candidates, and recruiting foreign technology talent.
One Japanese firm has decided to take an unusual route to bolster AI expertise. Daikin Industries, the world’s biggest maker of air conditioners, has created an in-house AI training programme for new graduates and current employees.