Japan lags in AI adoption due to corporate culture and aging infrastructure

Japanese companies are adopting artificial intelligence significantly slower than their counterparts in the United States and the United Kingdom. According to an OECD report, only 8.4% of Japanese employees use AI, compared to 50% in the US and 32% in the UK.

This delay is attributed to a corporate culture that prioritizes caution, consensus-based decision-making, and a low tolerance for error. Experts note that some organizations prefer leaving positions vacant rather than delegating responsibilities to machines. Currently, AI use in Japan is largely limited to low-risk tasks such as document summarization and text drafting, with minimal integration into essential operations or complex decision-making processes.

Furthermore, the adoption of new technology is hindered by aging digital infrastructure, with approximately 60% of Japanese corporate IT systems being over 20 years old. This reluctance to change persists despite the country facing significant economic challenges, including an aging population and a shrinking workforce.