OpenAI Bids for Japan Business as It Opens Tokyo Office 

Journalists are silhouetted at OpenAI’s press conference about the opening of its first Asia office in Tokyo, Japan April 15, 2024. (Reuters)
Journalists are silhouetted at OpenAI’s press conference about the opening of its first Asia office in Tokyo, Japan April 15, 2024. (Reuters)
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OpenAI Bids for Japan Business as It Opens Tokyo Office 

Journalists are silhouetted at OpenAI’s press conference about the opening of its first Asia office in Tokyo, Japan April 15, 2024. (Reuters)
Journalists are silhouetted at OpenAI’s press conference about the opening of its first Asia office in Tokyo, Japan April 15, 2024. (Reuters)

Microsoft backed artificial intelligence startup OpenAI made a pitch for business in Japan on Monday as it opened its first Asia office in Tokyo.

"This is just the first step in what I hope will be a long-term partnership with the people of Japan, government leaders, businesses and research institutions," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a video message.

The startup, which has caused excitement among consumers since the launch of its ChatGPT generative AI chatbot in late 2022, is looking to grow new sources of revenue globally.

Altman and Chief Operating Officer Brad Lightcap have hosted hundreds of Fortune 500 company executives in the United States and Britain this month to pitch for business, Reuters has reported.

Last year Altman said he was considering a Japan location after meeting Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The startup has also opened offices in London and Dublin.

Japan hopes to take advantage of AI as it looks to compete with an increasingly assertive China, accelerate the shift to digital services and alleviate deepening labor shortages.

"We have a backlog of demand," Lightcap told reporters in Tokyo, adding that "we expect a meaningful contribution from Japan over time," without providing details.

OpenAI said it has a custom model optimized for the Japanese language and that Tadao Nagasaki, who was president of Amazon Web Services in Japan, is heading the Japan business.

While the country is seen as a laggard in the technology, local companies including telcos SoftBank and NTT are investing in large language models.

OpenAI's customers in Japan include automaker Toyota Motor, manufacturer Daikin Industries and local government.

Microsoft said last week it would invest $2.9 billion over two years in cloud and AI infrastructure in Japan, part of a wave of investment globally by US tech giants.



SDAIA, Oxford University Partner on AI Engineering Camp to Empower Saudi Graduates

SDAIA, Oxford University Partner on AI Engineering Camp to Empower Saudi Graduates
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SDAIA, Oxford University Partner on AI Engineering Camp to Empower Saudi Graduates

SDAIA, Oxford University Partner on AI Engineering Camp to Empower Saudi Graduates

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) has launched a new artificial intelligence application engineering camp in collaboration with Oxford University. The initiative aims to train Saudi and international graduates, equipping them with advanced skills in the rapidly evolving field of AI.

The intensive eight-week program is open to bachelor's and master's degree holders in artificial intelligence, computer science, and related disciplines.

Overseen by international experts, the curriculum will cover advanced AI sciences, computer vision, deep learning, and generative models, SPA reported.

Participants will gain hands-on experience in designing and developing AI models using Python, TensorFlow, and PyTorch, and will work on advanced projects in natural language processing and computer vision.

A key focus of the camp is on practical application. Graduates will learn to use industry-standard tools like YOLO and Hugging Face to create and deploy real-world technical solutions.

The program adopts a flexible two-phase educational model, beginning with distance learning before transitioning to an in-person phase at Oxford University.

This camp forms part of SDAIA's commitment to developing national capabilities and fostering partnerships with leading global universities. By equipping Saudi talent with modern AI tools and technologies, the program supports the Kingdom's digital transformation goals and the targets of Saudi Vision 2030.