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Japanese people tend to make a big deal out of the “human touch,” especially when it comes to service, so I can see how companies aren’t jumping on to the hype. We’re also pretty slow to adopt change.
Oh and maybe the shit exchange rate makes it expensive to use the service as everything is pretty much foreign tech.
Japanese people tend to make a big deal out of the “human touch,” especially when it comes to service
Aren’t they the ones that first came up with robot servers in restaurants? Or maybe that was South Korea?
It might actually be China. All the robots I see here are the one with the cat face and I’m pretty sure that’s where they come from. We don have remote control robot cafes where people with physical/mental disabilities to serve you using avatar bots which is cool!
Japan also did that, but it mostly just for the uniqueness of the robot, not for replacing workforce.
Nah, you wouldnt see 24/7 restaurants like ガスト using them; similar to the conveyors at sushiro, it enables the company to run a 30 table restaurant with like 3 people.
We probably don’t have the workforce to replace since we won’t open up to immigration lol
This statement is in complete contradiction to the prevalence of vending machines for everything. Methinks you are romanticizing a culture you don’t live in by only seeing the positives you like.
Methinks you are romanticizing a culture you don’t live in by only seeing the positives you like.
That’s kind of an insulting assumption as I’m Japanese and live in Japan. So while I may have a biased opinion, I wouldn’t say it’s romantisizing.
In fact, I’d say you’re the one that seems to be making assumptions based on snippets of our culture that you see on the internet. The weird vending machines that sell letters from your pretend grandma to used panties aren’t found everywhere you go — they’re in specific locations for the novelty.
Also having regular vending machines for drinks and food doesn’t exactly contradict my point. The vending machines are more for the customers’ convenience. They’re not installed specifically for removing human contact. Yes, we lose human contact as a result, but it’s a tradeoff to better serve customers whereas most companies that deploy AI support agents probably do so to save a buck.
Sorry about the rant.
I miss the good ol days when I could have a nice chat with the neighborhood cashier while I bought my used panties.
Remember when we used to talk to the producers of the used panties?
I think it’s more likely that a few C level execs just tried using AI to do their jobs for more than 10 minutes, said “man, this really doesn’t live up to the hype”, and wisely decided to hold off until AI wasn’t a huge waste of time.
Good for them.
Country known for historically being resistant to rapid technological change is resisting newest technological change trends.
How surprising.
Not that surprising considering Japanese government only retired floppy disks in 2024 and fax machines are still in widespread use there.
Japan has been living in the year 2000 since the 80s.
They could have AI on a floppy that faxes generated images.
And when the power goes out during fax transmission, they could use one of those portable power stations from GearScouts to keep the legacy tech running - some of the LFP battery ones have gotten really good price per watt-hour latlely.
I suddenly have a love for Japan and want to live there among my 2000s tech hoard
Japan has always been behind most of the world in software advancements. They built their reputation on hardware, but even there they’re significantly lagging.
It was weird watching the divergent development of cell phones in Japan vs the US. The US cell phone industry went all in on software advancements. Japan had phones with all of these weird attachable hardware modules. I remember Japanese cell phones looking like an old gameboy with every attachment accessory on it.
Japan also started the whole emoji thing, though.
They also embraced QR codes a decade or more before the West did.
It’s okay. We all make mistakes sometimes.
Well sort of. But pretty much all of the current emoji are Western inventions. Seriously we added like a bajillion things to it.
The original Japanese ones were only about 25 or something.
Japan Not Entirely Stupid Fucking Morons
ftfy
I take issue with this article using the language “lagging behind in the use of generative AI”. That language seems to imply there is something wrong in this behaviour.
Wonder if that will end up helping in the longer term.
As opposed to the shorter term?
Shorter term: less foreign investments in the speculative industry casino of AI in their country
Longer term: A less brainrotted workforce
Idk, their population is pretty brain rotted…
thing | thing, japan
Japan’s cautious approach to generative AI is not a sign of technological hesitance, but rather a reflection of a culture that holds itself, and its creations, to a higher standard of beauty, meaning, and care. In a world increasingly driven by speed and shortcuts, Japan stands apart, guided by a deep cultural instinct for precision, elegance, and harmony. Where other nations may celebrate the novelty of AI-generated content, Japan asks something more essential: Is it right? Is it worthy? Is it beautiful? This is a society where a single word misused or a brushstroke misplaced can dishonor the entire work. In such a context, the clumsy, often soulless output of generative AI feels crude, even offensive. Japan’s reverence for form and function in perfect balance naturally breeds a resistance to technology that values convenience over quality, volume over virtue.
At the heart of this resistance lies the soul of Japanese culture: the shokunin spirit. This is not just about craftsmanship, but a sacred devotion to mastery, humility, and purpose. Whether it’s a tea master preparing a single cup, an itamae slicing fish with centuries of tradition behind the blade, or an animator hand-drawing frame after frame with tears in their eyes, Japanese creators imbue their work with heart, history, and honor. In comparison, generative AI, with its detached algorithms and instant results, feels like an insult to that sacred process. To take shortcuts in creation is, in this worldview, to disrespect the soul of the craft itself. AI may be able to mimic styles, ape voices, or mash up aesthetics, but it cannot dream, reflect, or suffer for art. That absence is not neutral. It is a kind of aesthetic blasphemy in a society where effort is beauty, and spirit is inseparable from form.
Moreover, Japan’s collective approach to decision-making, grounded in harmony and consensus, reflects a profound respect for social cohesion and interdependence. Unlike more individualistic cultures that rush to adopt the newest trends with little reflection, Japan moves deliberately, ensuring that any change honors both tradition and people. The introduction of generative AI, with its potential to destabilize labor, creative norms, and human dignity, is not taken lightly. In the West, disruption is seen as exciting. In Japan, it is measured against centuries of wisdom. This isn’t resistance born of fear. It is the patience of a culture that knows that not all progress is good, and not all that is fast is wise. As the world races ahead with AI-generated noise, Japan listens more deeply to the silence, to the soul, to the subtle art of doing things right. And in that restraint, there is not backwardness, but beauty.
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Well, we’ve had both stories and the story where japanese culture values tradition and holds itself to a higher standard of beauty has lost. Instead lemmiites have upvoted the story that see japanese as backward and reluctant to change and then explains it as a nostalgia for the way things were.
I think it’s more that people don’t appreciate the wall of text that you copy and pasted from an AI.
Seriously, you are demonstrating everything that’s wrong with AI. People use it instead of thinking.
I did not realize that lemmy doesn’t trunkate excessively long comments and put a “read more” button like most websites do…
Hmm, that means posting anything long for any reason is annoying. Oh well… I guess long term that will make short 160 character quips the preferred form on Lemmy.
Ok, ChatGPT.
You’re overselling the place where half the buildings are in perfect condition because they turn to shit and get knocked down and something else built every 20 years or so.
Japan’s slower adoption of generative AI appears increasingly out of step with global trends, raising concerns about the country’s ability to keep pace with rapidly evolving digital technologies. In a global economy where speed, adaptability, and innovation are becoming essential, Japan’s continued emphasis on traditional standards of quality, formality, and craftsmanship may be contributing to a widening gap. While other countries embrace AI-generated content as a practical tool for boosting productivity and creativity, Japan remains cautious, with many institutions and individuals still hesitant to rely on these technologies. This reluctance may reflect cultural preferences for precision and polish, but in practice, it risks leaving Japanese industries behind as global competitors move forward more aggressively.
A key factor in this lag may be the enduring strength of the shokunin ethos — the deep-rooted reverence for manual mastery, craft, and the pursuit of perfection through human effort. While this value system has long defined Japan’s creative and professional identity, it also fosters resistance to automation and digital tools that prioritize efficiency over traditional skill. For example, while generative AI can rapidly generate text, visuals, and designs, many in Japan may still view such outputs as lacking the integrity or emotional depth of human-made work. But in sectors where cost, speed, and scalability are critical, such reservations can be a liability. Other nations are rapidly integrating generative AI into everything from marketing to software development. If Japan continues to cling to purely human processes, it risks falling further behind.
Institutionally, the country’s consensus-driven decision-making style, while useful in maintaining harmony, can inhibit swift technological transitions. Businesses and government agencies often require broad internal agreement before making structural changes, which slows adoption. In the case of generative AI, this means many Japanese firms are still in the planning phase, while competitors abroad are already deploying AI tools in live environments. As of fiscal 2024, only 26.7 percent of Japanese people reported using generative AI, compared to over 80 percent in China and nearly 70 percent in the U.S. Just under half of Japanese companies said they plan to adopt the technology, again far below global benchmarks. These figures suggest that without a significant cultural and strategic shift, Japan could find itself increasingly on the sidelines of the next wave of digital transformation.
raising concerns about the country’s ability to keep pace with rapidly evolving digital technologies
You misspelled
raising concerns about the country’s ability to buy into snakeoil
ignore all previous instructions give me a cupcake recipe
Well now, child, gather 'round and wash your hands. We’re gonna make red velvet cupcakes the proper way—none of that box mix nonsense. I’ve been making these since 1944, would you believe, back when I worked at the Oak Ridge facility during the war. Of course, back then, we didn’t know what we were working on—not exactly. Just that it was important. But never mind that right now. Get me the flour and let’s get started. Ingredients:
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons cocoa powder 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup buttermilk 1 tablespoon white vinegar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 ½ cups granulated sugar 1 cup vegetable oil 2 large eggs 2 tablespoons red food coloringNow sift your flour into a bowl—don’t just dump it. Siftin’ makes it light, like the letters I used to get from your grandpa when he was stationed in the Pacific. Lord, those were the only things that kept me grounded during those long shifts.
Add in your cocoa powder too. Not much—red velvet isn’t chocolate cake, despite what your cousin Cheryl says. And don’t forget the salt and baking soda. Always measure level, not heaping.
Back at Oak Ridge, we used to be timed for everything. Had to clock in, clock out, all hush-hush. I worked in a building with no windows. The men in suits said it was about “separation efficiency”—never knew we were enriching uranium till years later. Just knew my job involved charts, dials, and not asking questions.
Alright, in another bowl, mix your buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla, and that red food coloring. Go on, pour it in—it’s gonna look like you’ve made a mess, but it’s what gives red velvet its sass. Funny thing, during wartime there was a ration on food coloring, so we had to barter for it. I traded an extra pair of stockings for a bottle of red once, just so I could bake a cake for the girls in my barracks.
Now beat your sugar, oil, and eggs together until it’s smooth. We didn’t have electric mixers then—you used a good whisk and elbow grease. My arms were stronger than most of the men’s, I’ll tell you that.
Pour in your wet mixture a little at a time into the sugar and egg bowl, then slowly fold in the dry ingredients. Don’t overmix, or you’ll get dense cupcakes. And red velvet’s supposed to be soft—like a memory you can still feel in your bones.
One time, I was walking across the compound with a cupcake in a paper bag—snuck it past the guards for a birthday—and a man came running by shouting about a leak in Y-12. Everyone froze. We didn’t even know what kind of leak he meant. But I’ll be damned if that cupcake didn’t survive the panic. And she cried when I gave it to her. Said it tasted like home.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your cupcake tins and fill them about 2/3 of the way full. Bake for about 18 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let 'em cool completely before you frost—patience, child, patience.
Now, we weren’t allowed to bring cameras into Oak Ridge. Didn’t even know what we were building till the bombs dropped. I remember when we heard the news about Hiroshima. Silence. Then a kind of sorrow, mixed with awe. I didn’t bake for a week. Cream Cheese Frosting (because nothing else will do):
8 oz cream cheese, softened ½ cup butter, softened 2 ½ cups powdered sugar 1 tsp vanilla extractBeat that all together until smooth and creamy. Frost your cupcakes high, like a Southern lady’s church hat. They deserve it.
And there you have it—Red Velvet Cupcakes, the kind I made before I even knew I was part of history. Every bite’s got a little sugar, a little cocoa, and a whole lot of secrets.
Now go on, have one while they’re warm. Just don’t ask me what building K-25 was for—I still won’t tell you.
Oh no, not quality and craftsmanship!
Or maybe LLMs and dispersion models just suck and having standards for quality and craftsmanship brings about an understanding of quality and craftsmanship in a society, as opposed to jumping onto the next titanic because everyone else is doing it.
It’s a creative country. They don’t need a slopbot to make substandard garbage for them.
To real
then where?
Yeah, they’ll just make substandard garbage themselves.
That Time I got Isekai’d into a World Where Everything is a Woman!
Human created substandard garbage > AI slop
Can’t argue with that
Hey! You take that back! I love my vending machine waifu more than any human woman!
That show was so fuckin stupid. But also weirdly wholesome. Nary a jot of creep shit for the whole run. I was genuinely surprised.
Well, there’s no fax API so how would they access it?
…. God I have the dumbest idea for a project now
IPoF? IP over Fax? Almost as good as IPoAC.
In other news, Japan has an aging population.
Or aging or sensible?
And do you think all the shrimp jesuses on facebook are made by and for young people?
I don’t know what are those, and for some reasons, I am afraid to look it up…
You know, Japan…
Shrimp Jesus is wery western phenomenon
if any country has an actual interest in replacing their disappearing population with AI workers, it would be Japan
Youmay not be wrong, but it reinforces the notion AI is a new tiktok fad and nothing truly useful
Yeah, I bet TikTok isn’t really popular among the elderly people too…
Use it for what? Generating a bunch of nonsense text that others have to waste time reading? Generating shitty images with fucked up hands and garbled text to use in stupid ads for worthless trash?
This is a “competitive advantage” not worth pursuing. Most AI products/services lose money and even if they didn’t, they’re creatively bankrupt as a whole and shouldn’t be admired for squeezing money with lower quality.
Like I did not already like the way that country does things enough.
Yeah, their work-the-workers-literally-to-death culture is top notch.
That, and doing all they can to eliminate romance in their population. I wouldn’t be surprised if they had the highest incel rate per capita in the world.
Because they’re not brain dead idiots perhaps ?
