Dentsu Inc. establishes "AI MIRAI," a project team to oversee the promotion of AI utilization both within and outside the company.

The text of the Dentsu Inc. news release distributed on January 16 is as follows.

---

January 16, 2018

Dentsu Inc. Establishes 'AI MIRAI' Project Team to Promote AI Utilization Internally and Externally

Dentsu Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Toshihiro Yamamoto) has launched "AI MIRAI" (pronounced "AI Mirai"), a central project team to promote the use of AI—an essential element for future business—both internally and externally. This team consolidates the cutting-edge AI expertise developed and operated across various internal projects with the external networks cultivated over time.

This team comprises over 40 in-house experts utilizing AI across creative, media, information systems, and workstyle reform initiatives. Dentsu has previously developed AI solutions such as the television ratings prediction system "SHAREST" (※1) and the AI copywriter "AICO" (※2), leveraging its unique insights, data, and planning capabilities. Having already advanced over 20 separate AI-related projects and seen increasing adoption in the field, we established this centralized project team to maximize synergies.

Specifically, we will initially develop services and solutions across three domains: "AI MIRAI Marketing" providing advanced marketing services leveraging AI, "AI MIRAI Workstyle" supporting productivity enhancement and workstyle transformation, and "AI MIRAI Business" promoting new business development through collaboration with partner companies.

Today, we also entered into a business partnership with AI inside Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President: Takashi Tokuchi), which holds patents for AI-based handwriting recognition. We agreed to collaborate on digital transformation and marketing applications. Going forward, both companies will promote joint research and development in the AI field to provide next-generation advanced marketing, operational efficiency, and business development solutions to client companies.

Additionally, we have launched the "Voice Actor Timer" service in collaboration with Nippon Cultural Broadcasting, Inc. This service utilizes smart speakers and marks our first joint development of a smart speaker service with a radio broadcaster. Compatible with the cloud-based voice service "Amazon Alexa" (*3), it is an audio content service that allows users to enjoyably spend "180 seconds" with the voices of popular voice actors Natsuki Hanae and Rina Hidaka.
Through the deepening and expansion of this service, we aim to provide new communication services within the "voice media" space.

Moving forward, we will contribute to the development of AI solutions directly addressing customer challenges and the further expansion of AI utilization in society. This will be achieved by enhancing our internal AI expertise and collaborating with various external partners.

■ "AI MIRAI" Logo Mark

　
※1 TV Viewership Rating Prediction System "SHAREST"
URL: http://www.dentsu.co.jp/news/release/2017/0616-009318.html
　

※2 AI Copywriter "AICO"
URL: http://www.dentsu.co.jp/news/release/2017/0517-009291.html

※3 "Amazon Alexa"
Alexa, the brain behind the Amazon Echo smart speaker, is built in the cloud and constantly evolving to become smarter. Just speak to it, and it helps with various everyday tasks like playing music, reading news, or reciting your schedule. Echo is always ready to respond with hands-free voice control. Call out to Alexa from anywhere in the room, and it will respond immediately. With far-field voice recognition technology and a 7-microphone array, it clearly hears your voice.

 

■Company Overview of AI inside Inc.
Company Name: AI inside Inc.
URL:https://inside.ai
Headquarters: Shibuya Daiichi Seimei Building 4F, 3-8-12 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Representative Director Takashi Tokuchi
Established: August 3, 2015
Capital: 727 million yen (including capital reserve)
Business Activities: Software Development, Artificial Intelligence Business

End

---

Dentsu Inc. News Release
http://www.dentsu.co.jp/news/release/2018/0116-009428.html