Microsoft Japan opens AI technical support lab

October 26, 2023

Microsoft Japan (Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Miki Tsusaka) opened the “Microsoft AI Co-Innovation Lab” at the Kobe Commerce, Industry and Trade Center in Kobe City and held an opening ceremony on October 11 (= photo). The company’s engineers will provide technical support to companies and organizations considering the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The AI Co-Innovation Lab is the sixth in Japan, following labs in the United States, China, Germany, and Uruguay.

The opening ceremony was attended by Microsoft Japan President Tsusaka, Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) President and CEO Yasuhiko Hashimoto, and Kobe City Mayor Kizo Hisamoto. KHI President and CEO Hashimoto expressed his expectations, “‘Real’ products bring more value when combined with digital technology. I am confident that Kobe will move forward by attracting the lab. KHI has established a committee to support the lab’s operation, and Kobe City is supporting its promotional activities.

Using KHI’s industrial robots and Microsoft’s HoloLens2 headset, the demonstration room provides a demo system that allows visitors to test robots in a virtual space.