Japan to implement AI for emergency call operations

Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency plans to launch a model project in fiscal 2027 to integrate artificial intelligence into its 119 emergency call operations for firefighting, rescue, and ambulance services. The initiative will utilize “vertical AI” to implement speech recognition systems that automatically transcribe calls, aiming to streamline record-keeping and reduce the workload on staff during periods of high ambulance dispatch volume.

The AI system is expected to provide real-time advice to staff based on call content and will also be applied to the “#7119” consultation service to help determine if an ambulance is necessary. Additionally, the technology will offer automated guidance regarding nearby hospitals.

Beyond call handling, the agency intends to introduce wearable robots to assist firefighters with the physical demands of carrying victims during rescue operations. Fire departments are also slated to test drone-based AI technology designed to detect fires through aerial image analysis. These developments align with a government strategy to promote the practical application of vertical AI in firefighting by 2030.