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2 clusters · 5 sources · 8 days · First seen 18 days ago · Last updated 11 days ago

Rakuten AI expansion in Japan

Overview

In late July 2026, Rakuten Group partnered with Hewlett‑Packard Japan to launch “Rakuten AI for Desktop,” a hybrid AI solution bundled with HP PCs. The service runs a Japanese‑optimized 7‑billion‑parameter language model locally on the device for offline tasks while retaining cloud connectivity to access over 70 Rakuten ecosystem services. The initial rollout targets corporate customers, with a consumer version planned after October.

A week later, at the “Rakuten AI Optimism” conference in Yokohama, Rakuten announced further AI applications. It unveiled an AI‑driven “store manager” for its Ichiba e‑commerce platform, designed to answer shopper queries, recommend products, and assist with ordering around the clock. The event also highlighted an AI concierge for tourism, aimed at supporting regional revitalisation amid Japan’s demographic challenges. Together, these announcements illustrate Rakuten’s broader strategy to embed AI across hardware, commerce, and travel services in Japan.

Entities

Rakuten Group · Rakuten Ichiba · Kazuto Yasaka · Rakuten AI 7B · Takano Yoshiyuki

Timeline

11 days ago

[BUSINESS] 2 sources
Rakuten unveils AI store manager and tourism AI strategy at Yokohama event
Rakuten unveiled an AI store manager for its e‑commerce site and discussed AI‑driven tourism strategies at a Yokohama conference, aiming for a prototype by year‑end.
18 days ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 3 sources
Rakuten and Japanese HP launch hybrid AI on HP PCs for offline and cloud use
Rakuten and HP Japan have bundled a hybrid AI system, “Rakuten AI for Desktop,” into HP PCs, enabling offline Japanese‑language AI tasks and cloud‑linked Rakuten services, beginning with corporate users and a c

Sources

classics.itmedia.co.jp · desinic.hr · mag.executive.itmedia.co.jp · travelnews.co.jp · weekly.ascii.jp