Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son on Monday to discuss artificial intelligence and investments. The PM mentioned that he wants to cooperate in the AI industry and intends to speak to United States President Donald Trump on the issue at a summit on February 7.
The move has been seen as a ploy to deepen relations as it prepares to keep pace with China to prevent undue dominance in the field. Trump surprised the majority of his supporters after he announced a joint AI venture called Stargate, worth $500 billion. The investment includes SoftBank, OpenAI, and a new group called Oracle. Ishiba is now using the investment as an opportunity to meet with Trump at the summit.
Japan PM moves to the United States in joint AI development
According to regional media, the PM met with Altman and Son to exchange views on AI investment in the United States. “We want Japan and the United States to deepen cooperation in the field of AI and strive to make the world more peaceful, prosperous, and safe,” Ishiba said. While some Trump supporters are still at a loss on how the global AI database will help make the country great, the Japanese are also questioning the PM’s motives concerning tech.
Per a previous report on Cryptopolitan, the Japanese government had openly discussed its intentions to use AI to surveil the populace. While residents are still in financial distress, the country is choosing to further its investment in tech at their expense. In response to their meeting, a user, suspected to be from Japan said: “If you’re going to spend that much money, make an AI made in Japan instead.”
Like the AI initiative of the Japanese government, Stargate also wants to use AI to further its agenda, with its goal of fighting cancer. The “My Number” initiative surveils digital health and is seen in the same controversial light as the Japanese AI initiative. Most people believe that it will make all health records centralized, putting private information at risk.