US and Japan Join Forces on AI Research for Life Sciences and Workforce Development

Japan is forging new partnerships with U.S. universities to accelerate advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) research. Under the collaborative agreements, the University of Washington and the University of Tsukuba will work together on AI initiatives, specifically focusing on workplace development. Concurrently, Carnegie Mellon University will partner with Keio University to explore multimodal learning, embodied AI, and applications in life sciences.

To bolster these ambitious research initiatives, major private companies from both the U.S. and Japan, including Nvidia, Softbank Group, and Amazon, are collectively contributing $110 million. Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, emphasized the significance of these collaborations, stating, “Nothing is more important than having trusted partners who can collaborate not only on the technological side of this critical research but also on the ethical side.” He noted that the shared values and expertise of both countries could set a groundbreaking standard in this rapidly evolving field.

The announcement of these collaborations occurred at the Department of Commerce Research Library in Washington D.C. during the state visit of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo reiterated the commitment to fostering partnerships, saying, “The U.S. is dedicated to working with our allies and partners to lead the development of safe and responsible AI, and we welcome opportunities for collaboration between our institutions in leading-edge technology.”

These newly formed research agreements represent a deepening of bilateral cooperation on emerging technologies between the U.S. and Japan. In May 2022, President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida pledged to enhance collaboration in science and technology fields. Subsequently, leading universities from both nations signed research agreements focusing on semiconductors and AI during the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima last summer.

In addition to these academic partnerships, the U.S. and Japan have also agreed to explore ways to boost investments in their power grids to foster industries that are power-intensive, including AI, data centers, and quantum computing. Interestingly, Kishida’s visit coincided with an announcement from Microsoft regarding plans to invest $2.9 billion in developing and enhancing cloud and AI infrastructure in Japan, showcasing the strong momentum of cross-national investment in advanced technologies.

These strategic alliances between Japan and U.S. institutions mark a pivotal step toward advancing AI research while ensuring ethical considerations remain at the forefront of technological innovation.