OpenAI, Backed by Microsoft, Expands Its Presence with New Office in Tokyo

OpenAI is making significant strides in Asia with the recent launch of its Tokyo office in Japan. Tadao Nagasaki, a former executive at AWS, will spearhead this initiative as the president of OpenAI Japan. Bringing extensive experience from his previous role as president of AWS Japan, Nagasaki is set to lead efforts that cater to the expanding Asian market.

In conjunction with the office opening, OpenAI has introduced a specialized version of GPT-4, tailored specifically for the Japanese language. This custom model offers remarkable performance, generating Japanese text up to three times faster than GPT-4 Turbo, the company’s most advanced large language model. The Japanese-based English learning application, Speak, is among the initial adopters of this new technology, benefiting from tutor explanations that are also generated significantly faster.

Local users will receive early access to this powerful model, with plans for a broader release via the OpenAI API in the months ahead. OpenAI has selected Japan as its first Asian hub due to the country's prominent standing in technology, its commitment to innovative service, and a vibrant community open to new ideas.

"We’re thrilled to establish our presence in Japan, a nation celebrated for its harmonious blend of people and technology," stated Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI. "Our vision is to harness AI to enhance creativity and productivity while delivering transformative value across both existing and yet-to-be-conceived industries."

With its headquarters in San Francisco and additional offices in Dublin and London, OpenAI's expansion into Asia is also a strategic move to get closer to key local players such as Daikin, Rakuten, and Toyota Connected, all of whom are currently utilizing ChatGPT Enterprise.

The company emphasizes that broadening its global footprint allows for learning from a vast array of perspectives, which is vital to its mission of ensuring artificial general intelligence serves the interests of humanity as a whole.

In related developments, Microsoft has announced the establishment of its own research lab in Tokyo, part of a $2.9 billion investment aimed at enhancing Japan's cloud and AI infrastructure. This commitment from both OpenAI and Microsoft underscores the growing significance of the Japanese market in the broader landscape of technology innovation.