OpenAI has expanded to Japan, where it has announced the opening of a new center in Tokyo, and plans to introduce a specially enhanced GPT-4 model for the Japanese language.
The company developing AI chatbot ChatGPT opened its first international office in London last year, followed by its inaugural office in the European Union in Dublin a few months later.
Tokyo marks the first branch of OpenAI in Asia and the fourth globally, including the headquarters in San Francisco.
CEO Sam Altman highlighted Japan’s rich history in terms of people and technology as one of the key reasons for establishing an official presence in the region.
So far, OpenAI’s global expansion efforts have been somewhat strategic, with the UK serving as a major talent hub in AI, while the European Union is currently leading regulatory efforts for AI.
At the same time, Japan also holds a prominent position in the field of AI, leading the G7 and Hiroshima AI process in the quest for arbitrating AI and steering towards the development of safe and trustworthy artificial intelligence.
The choice of who manages its operations in Japan is also notable, with Tadao Nagazaki heading its office there.
Nagazaki joined OpenAI after leading Amazon’s cloud computing company in the region for 12 years, showcasing OpenAI’s new focus on corporate and institutional sectors.
As the head of OpenAI’s branch in Japan, Nagazaki is tasked with building a local team and enhancing the growth of the emerging AI company in Japan.
The company’s client list in Japan includes major corporations such as Daikin, Rakuten, and Toyota, in addition to local government entities relying on ChatGPT to enhance public service efficiency in the country.
ChatGPT has always been proficient in multiple languages, including Japanese. The latest version of the large language model has been optimized for the Japanese language, providing the robot with an enhanced understanding of intricate details within the Japanese language. This includes cultural understanding that enhances the robot’s effectiveness, particularly in business areas such as customer service and content production.
OpenAI states that the customized model shows improved performance, meaning it requires faster and more efficient work in terms of cost compared to the previous model.
Currently, OpenAI is offering early access to the customized GPT-4 model for some local companies, with gradual access becoming available in the coming months.
