Matt Bigelow

music, podcasts, and recordings from tokyo

Podcasts and self-produced music from Tokyo. AI trends from Tokyo, Asia News Analysis, Odd Japanese Items, and documenting the rising conflict in the Indo-Pacific region.

Filtering by Tag: Japan AI Podcast

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 200 "A.I. HAPPY POINTS"

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 199 "THE EMPIRE'S EDGE"

What is Japan’s current position in the Supply Chain Wars? How will Japan handle the influx of millions of AI Agents in the workforce? Can Japan develop its own Self-Driving Systems?


SHOW NOTES

SUPPLY CHAIN WAR

Hill hearing explores network of China-controlled ports as security threat

China builds space alliances in Africa as Trump cuts foreign aid

Ghana and China (from Grok)

  • Infrastructure Investments: China has financed significant infrastructure projects in Ghana, often through loans and barter agreements. For example, the Bui Dam, Ghana’s second-largest hydroelectric plant, was constructed by Sinohydro through a barter loan involving cocoa exports. China’s Export-Import Bank provided a USD 562 million loan for the USD 622 million project. Other projects include telecommunication networks, highways, water supply expansions, and schools in Accra.

  • Rail and Road Development: A USD 6 billion concessionary loan from the China Export-Import Bank is being used to extend Ghana’s rail network, including the 17 km Ofankor-Nsawam road (completed in 2009 with a USD 28 million interest-free loan) and landing sites for fishing communities (USD 99 million interest-free loan).

  • Mining and Bauxite Deals: China has invested in Ghana’s mining sector, particularly in bauxite, through deals that exchange infrastructure development for mining rights. These investments have led to significant environmental and social concerns, including deforestation and water pollution in areas like the Atewa forest.

  • Total Investments: By 2014, Chinese investments in Ghana reached USD 1.6 billion, with cumulative investments from 2008 to 2015 totaling USD 2.2 billion. Most investments focus on manufacturing, construction, tourism, trading, and services, with building and construction emerging as major recipients.

Owner Of US Defense Contractor Making Fighter Jet, Missile Parts Listed As Chinese Intel Agency Official

Taiwan plans investment and trade center in Fukuoka

SOCIETY 5.0

How can the president of a black company become invincible by acquiring an "AI agent"?

Hackers Using AI Agents To Validate Stolen Credit Cards

SoftBank app SureTalk turns sign language into text

AI agent developed by University of Tokyo startup Tou to streamline construction work

The advent of the "Sales 3.0" era: Algomatic's AI agents will change the future of sales

Napkin AI reinvents the design agency: 4 AI agents generate professional-grade graphics in 5 seconds

Pitch deck for startup that turns existing security cameras into AI agents that successfully raised 2 billion yen [Exclusive Release

Colega AI, an AI agent for restaurants, raises funds and enters the Japanese market in earnest

"Face Recognition System FACEmaⓇ Management Box Series Key Management Box Model," jointly developed with Obayashi Corporation, will be available for rental from February 12, 2025

Migaro Holdings aims to expand its facial recognition service overseas

AI-based medical interviews begin at Kurobe Municipal Hospital, reducing the burden on both doctors and patients

Tuyen Quang Provincial Public Security Department Announces Launch of AI Security System "AI Security asilla" in Detention Centers and Prison Facilities

BYD, China's largest electric vehicle manufacturer, has announced that it will equip all of its vehicles with cutting-edge autonomous driving systems.

Nihon Kotsu and Tier IV begin collecting driving data across Tokyo for AI development

"Autonomous vehicle 'priority lane'" finally installed on Shin-Tomei Expressway in March, tested in left lane at night

Business opportunities inside self-driving cars! Development of concierge AI and special seats progresses

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 198 "YOUR A.I. AGENT COMETH"

How will AI agents flooding the corporations affect the way we work? Can Japan’s small scale startups compete? What do we know about China’s new secret submarine’s role in the Supply Chain War?

SHOW NOTES

SUPPLY CHAIN WAR

New Unreported Submarine In China Leaves West Guessing

Panama: Will not renew agreement with China on Belt and Road initiative

Trump says the US will take over the Gaza Strip

Greenland PM calls election with Trump pressure mounting

Exclusive: Japan weighs Alaska LNG pipeline pledge to win Trump's favour


JAPAN SOCIETY 5.0

OpenAI and SoftBank Group partner to provide cutting-edge enterprise AI "Crystal Intelligence" in Japan, ahead of the rest of the world

JetBrains also announced "Junie," an AI agent that codes autonomously.

Geniee Group company JAPAN AI Co., Ltd. starts offering AI agent "Slide Creation Assistant"

"Rimo Voice" becomes a meeting AI agent

AVILEN starts offering a highly accurate document processing AI agent, aiming to significantly reduce manual work and improve productivity

SoftBank Group plans to deploy hundreds of millions of AI agents -- new business with OpenAI and enterprise AI

OpenAI chief Altman signs deal with S Korea's Kakao after DeepSeek upset

Open House Real Estate to introduce DXYZ's facial recognition platform "FreeiD" for its first all-facial recognition apartment building

DXYZ of the Migaro Group introduces FreeiD facial recognition to apartments in Fukuoka

Prefectural police to introduce AI camera analysis at all 18 police stations in the new fiscal year to quickly process huge amounts of footage

Gunma Prefecture FY2025 Budget Proposal: Safety - AI-based camera footage analysis

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 194 "SMART POLE SWINGER"


JAPAN WUT PODCAST 189 "QR CODE ROADS"


ON PODCAST 188

DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT


Is it a good idea to slap QR Codes on Japan’s road signs for self-driving cars? Will unions be able to halt A.I. from taking jobs from the Japanese? How far will Japan go to acquire automated defense capabilities?

Show Notes

JAPAN

Parasitic worms 'manipulate' praying mantises onto asphalt roads: Japan researchers

SOCIETY 5.0

In the age of autonomous driving, road signs may become "QR codes" List of anticipated use cases

Tobu Railway has announced its intention to introduce new autonomous trains on the Daishi Line.

Sekisui House launches Japan's first "AI Clone Owner" service that allows home buyers to easily consult with the owner via chat

DXYZ's facial recognition platform "FreeiD" introduced to Pressance Corporation's "Presance Grand Kyoto Kawaramachi," the first condominium in the Kansai region to use all facial recognition technology

Japan audio industry calls for appropriate use of AI as voice actors air frustrations

SoftBank taps Nvidia for Japanese 'AI grid' project

Prime Minister Ishiba plans to provide more than 10 trillion yen in public support to the AI and semiconductor industry over seven years

Microsoft Research Asia – Tokyo established

Hello Work to use artificial intelligence (AI) to list job vacancies

AI-equipped unmanned demonstration aircraft to make first flight in November 2025, Defense Acquisition Agency official reveals at technology symposium

"Fire watchtower" equipped with AI camera installed in Oarai Town

China's Baidu releases the latest version of its autonomous driving platform "Apollo" to the world

North Korea tests exploding drones as Kim calls for mass production

DEPOPULATION / MIGRATION

102 local Japan traditions halted or lose folk cultural asset status amid population decline

Japan's births likely to fall under 700,000 for 1st time in 2024

Salmon poachers in Hokkaido likely solicited by foreign language ads online

SGOTW

American tourist accused of defacing gate at Meiji Shrine with fingernails

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 187 "GPS SLIPPERS"


ON PODCAST 187

DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT

What are the benefits of transplanting pig organs into human fetuses in Japan? Why is Hiroshima introducing self-driving ships? Where are Japan's eco-youth activists getting their ideas?

SHOW NOTES

Youths argue for right to live on safe planet in climate suit against Japan firms

Japan launches flagship H3 rocket carrying defense satellite

NUCLEAR

Reactor in Japan's 2011 disaster area halted just days after restart

SOCIETY 5.0

Japan-1st organ 'xenotransplant' for fetuses with kidney disease proposed by research team

Toyota, NTT to invest $3.3 billion on development of AI platform

Rivasta develops a system that uses facial recognition to control entrance and exit using the technician's own smartphone

Fukuoka greengrocer uses facial recognition to shut out shoplifters

Autonomous driving and platooning BRT demonstration experiment

Kubota increases yields with automated farm machinery, reducing base station position error to 3cm

Eight Knot, a startup developing autonomous ship operation technology, has signed an agreement with Osakikamijima Town, Hiroshima Prefecture, to introduce an autonomous passenger and cargo transport service and verify its effectiveness.

India's TCS has thousands of engineers to build AI software for Japan

GPS-equipped shoes that allow AI robots to pinpoint the location of wandering elderly people Promoting the appeal of nursing work

Picking success rate of 94.5%... Toshiba develops new AI technology for logistics robots to automate logistics sites

SUPPLY CHAIN WAR

Japan gov't-backed agency opens Kyiv office to promote trade, business

Wary of Japan's 'Asian NATO' proposal, neighboring countries stick with web of alternatives to deter China

Japan and EU announce security and defense partnership

CHINA

Chinese navy holds first dual aircraft carrier drills in South China Sea

China says it's ready to launch the next crew to its orbiting space station early Wednesday

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 185 "AI REAPER"


ON PODCAST 185

DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT

Is it wise to invest in nuclear power and AI? Why did a Japanese funeral home implement a funeral ChatBot for LGBTQ funerals? What will happen to Japan as the BRICS rise?

SHOW NOTES

NUCLEAR

NVIDIA-backed Japan-based Ubitus to build AI data center near nuclear power plant

Japan's oldest reactor OK'd to operate beyond 50 years

SOCIETY 5.0

Toyota Unveils Hydrogen Cartridges, Energy Storage at Japan Mobility Show

Digital wage payments start in Japan via PayPay in cashless drive

Polimill implements specialized AI switching function in production version of generative AI tool for local governments and government ministries

What is data governance? Explaining the difference between data governance and data management, as well as the benefits and points to note for companies

Toyota's top scientist considers applying generative AI to autonomous driving

Pizza Hut releases 130% cheese "AI Pizza" using "Taste AI" to find the golden ratio... "Optimal Taste Solution" The best match for fried oysters is "ponzu"!

Tobu Sports introduces "GYM DX" provided by Opt Fit, an AI surveillance camera for gyms, realizing an unmanned women's gym and establishing a new management model

Nishida Funeral Home introduces the latest AI chatbot to provide 24-hour support for funeral-related questions


DEDOLLAR

BRICS launches demo of its new payment system

Russia to Host Landmark BRICS Summit in Ongoing Bid to Reshape World Order

BRICS is a response to the ‘odious’ Western system – former Pentagon official

Russia & Iran almost fully rely on national currencies in trade – Kremlin

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 183 "AI GOLF DYSTOPIA"


ON PODCAST 183

DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT

Why is a former race car driver in charge of Japan’s New Capitalism? Where are the laser boats being deployed in the Indo-Pacific? Will Japan’s AI Golf Devices open the genie’s bottle?

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Show Notes

JAPAN

New LDP Leader Ishiba’s Economic Vision Points to Continuity, Tax Reform; Prime Minister-to-Be Hopes to ‘Solidify’ Kishida’s Efforts, Battle Rising Prices

Top Japanese firms pull out from Olympic sponsorships

SUPPLY CHAIN WAR

Eyeing 2027 China threat, U.S. deploys laser-equipped ship to Japan

Chinese warship shoots laser at BFAR aircraft

Crew of Vietnamese fishing boat injured in an attack in the South China Sea, state media say

SOCIETY 5.0

Japanese team finds 303 more Nazca geoglyphs through AI tech

Tokyo gov't launches AI dating app to match couples, boost births

Millions of Vehicles Could Be Hacked and Tracked Thanks to a Simple Website Bug

powerline drones

Development of pig weight estimation technology using cable-mounted moving camera and AI (artificial intelligence) - Scabutter® application system -

The military use of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to grow. China is confused.

In an age where AI (artificial intelligence) can find lost items, the burden on commercial facilities has been reduced to the point that "I don't want to do it with paper anymore"

Singapore to implement facial recognition for online banking

WorldCoin introduces facial recognition feature and launches in Guatemala, Poland and Malaysia

Sony and Raspberry Pi jointly develop "AI camera" - we asked both companies about their goals

Japan Bus Association aims for autonomous driving and cashless payments by 2030

WHILL autonomous driving service begins full operation at Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport)

NX Group and Groovenauts use optimization technology to automate air freight consolidation operations, aiming for a 25% reduction in five years

Japan's first ChatGPT-based conversational golf AI device "BirdieTalk" is released. AI provides comprehensive support for your game.

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 177 "AI DRONE COPS"


ON PODCAST 177

DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT

Is Japan collapsing its rice production on purpose? Would you run from an AI Drone Cop? Would you inject an AI Biological Agent into your veins?

Follow the Podcast: Twitter / Facebook Page / Instagram
Official Website, please share:
matthewpmbigelow.com

SHOW NOTES

SUPPLY CHAIN WAR

Japanese gov't appeals for calm as panic rice buying continues

Why has Japan been hit with rice shortages, soaring prices despite normal crops?

Scallop industry overcomes crisis triggered by China import ban

Japan to reportedly subsidize firms to develop supply chain, independent of China in SEA

China, Russia plot course for Arctic cooperation, shipping routes to counter West

Post-pandemic global supply chain turmoil might still ruin Christmas

India and Japan Sign Landmark Green Ammonia Export Agreement

Japan steelmakers to invest in Australian mine for stable coal supply

JAXA Forms Special Team to Protect Earth from Asteroids


SOCIETY 5.0

Govt to Develop AI-Equipped Drones to Identify Suspicious People in Disaster-Hit Areas

Turkish engineers-developed AI system ‘Covision’ deployed in Japan

Startups and tech giants lead new era of Korea-Japan cooperation

BostonGene Showcases AI-Powered Multiomics Platform at the 22nd Annual Meeting of Japanese Society of Digital Pathology in 2024

Sompo Enhances Digital Transformation with Palantir's AI Solutions

List of car models and features that allow hands-off driving (latest version 2024) Toyota, Honda, Nissan...

Japan’s Mitsubishi Electric Sees Surging Demand for a Special Type of A.I. Hardware

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 175 "EXOFLOP!"

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 174 "BATTERY ISLAND"

JAPAN WUT 173 "SAYONARA SUCKERS"

JAPAN WUT PODCAST 172 "MECH JANITORS"


ON PODCAST 171

DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT

Would you inject artificial blood if your life depended on it? Would you put your children on a self-driving bus? Can you trust AI CEOs that love being part of the World Economic Forum?

Show Notes

WEIRD CORNERS

Clinical trial on artificial blood cells to begin in Japan

Common wild amphibians banned from Yahoo auctions

Train travels all day long with corpse aboard in Tokyo area

SOCIETY 5.0

JR West now has giant robots performing maintenance work via VR-goggled operators

Utilizing AI to realize demand forecasting and plan optimization for the global manufacturing supply chain

Prime Minister Kishida announces that autonomous driving will be implemented at 10 locations, eliminating the need for a driver

Self-driving buses move smoothly through tunnels in Hokkaido's Kamishihoro town

Kawasaki City to begin demonstration experiment of self-driving buses that cross prefectural borders, the first in Japan, from January next year, aiming for "driverless" by 2027

Tier IV, whose president is an autonomous driving engineer, is ranked "No. 1 in Japan" in fundraising! Survey conducted from January to June 2024

Nissan-backed China's self-driving WeRide applies for IPO in U.S.

Denso-affiliated J-QuAD sees second consecutive quarterly profit increase due to "special demand" caused by autonomous driving development?

Toyota's research and development expenditure hits record high of 1.3 trillion yen! Will it be used for "Autonomous Driving" and "Woven City"?

NEXCO Central conducts demonstration experiment of self-driving snowplow on Shin-Tomei Expressway


SUPPLY CHAIN WARS

Chinese takeover of European seaports: EU turned a blind eye on security risks for years, experts say - Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism

Linked by Russia, North Korea and Belarus vow ‘new era’ of bilateral ties

Japan devising support plan on trade, decarbonization for Central Asia

Uber, China’s BYD, form partnership to deploy 100,000 EVs in EU and Latin America

Taiwan is readying citizens for a Chinese invasion. It’s not going well.

Japan Wut 164 "AUTONOMOUS CURRENCIES" (Copy)


ON PODCAST 164

DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT

Show Notes

Self-Driving Car startups are seeing massive cash injections in Japan, but can they deliver the goods? The BRICS plan on launching a new blockchain-gold-backed currency, called the UNIT. What does this mean for Japan and the G7 Economy, which is hellbent on minority issues and riding the tailcoats of its past?

DEPOPULATION

Meiji Yasuda Life to extend retirement age to 70 amid labor shortage

SOCIETY 5.0

Aichi Prefecture to start regular operation of self-driving vehicles in Nagoya City from October

Autonomous driving venture Turing raises additional 1.5 billion yen, total amount to 6 billion yen, to be used for development of computing infrastructure

Kajima and SoftBank subsidiary to operate Level 4 autonomous bus, first private company to do so

DEDOLLAR/BITCOIN

BRICS will have its own currency

Japan Wut 163 "YOU HAVE CANCER AI"

Japan Wut 160 "AI COUNTRY SUPERSTARS"


ON PODCAST 160

DONATE: PAYPAL.ME/JAPANWUT

While Japan’s crematoriums are under the influence of Chinese money, Japan rolls out its AI crime prevention technology to Latin America, but is it too late to curb China’s expansion into the Pacific? Meanwhile, AI Country Music might end up as the real winner with a bevy of new Generated Stars.


SHOW NOTES

JAPAN

Kanagawa Prefecture Aikawa Town: Three chicken coops burn down at a chicken farm, killing about 45,000 chickens (神奈川 愛川町 養鶏場で鶏舎3棟焼け約4万5000羽死ぬ|NHK 首都圏のニュース)

Chinese money in Japanese Crematoriums) 中国資本傘下の火葬場「東京博善」またも値上げ。東京23区内でシェア7割、商売敵も皆無でやりたい放題かと募る都民の不満 | マネーボイス

SOCIETY 5.0

A Novel Solution to Public Security: Japan’s AI-Based Crime Prediction | The Government of Japan

世界初!ENEOSとPreferred Networksが、AI技術による原油処理装置の自動運転を開始

Self-driving bus crashes after switching to manual mode to overtake Yahiko village


DEDOLLAR

China's Sinopec To Build Gas Pipelines For Saudi Aramco In $1-Billion Deal

CHINA

The Jiangnan military shipyard in #Shanghai is now building the following warships:

  • 2 helicopter carriers Type 075 & Type 076

  • Type 055 large destroyers / cruisers.

  • Type 054A frigates

  • Type 052DL destroyers

  • 3 Coast Guard ships

  • Jiangnan is one of 2 military shipyards in Shanghai. The other one is the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard.

  • The Jiangnan military shipyard built China's 3rd aircraft carrier, the Fujian.


SUPPLY CHAIN WAR

China eyes Sea of Japan access via Russia-North Korea border river

North Korean Tankers spotted at Russia’s Vostochny Port; Brazen Oil Product Smuggling Becomes the Norm



Japan Wut 157 "AI CAMERAS RISING"



Japan Wut 154 "AI Software Coup"

Japan Wut 153 "AI GOBBLEDYGOOK"



PHOTOS

Japan Wut 151 "AI LASER SUBMARINES"

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