Kazuhiro Shimura of Dentsu Inc. Speaks at World's Largest Tuna Conference "TUNA 2024"

The World Tuna Trade Conference & Exhibition (commonly known as TUNA 2024), the world's largest tuna conference hosted by the international governmental organization INFOFISH, was held in Bangkok, Thailand from May 20 to 22. Kazuhiro Shimura, Creative Director at Dentsu Inc. and Project Leader for "TUNA SCOPE," took the stage for the first time in two years since the year before last. He delivered a presentation on the further evolution of AI and the project's outlook.

"TUNA 2024" is an international conference hosted by INFOFISH, an international governmental organization, bringing together fisheries ministers from around the world, representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), researchers, and stakeholders from the global fisheries industry. Marking its 18th iteration, this year's conference was held under the theme "Advancing Blue Transformation, Sustainable Development and Innovation through the Global Tuna Industry." Presentations were delivered by speakers from over 40 countries.

Developed by Dentsu Inc.'s creative team, the AI "TUNA SCOPE" inherits the expertise of Japan's skilled tuna inspectors. It continues to learn from inspection data collected from markets and fisheries factories across Japan, including Toyosu and Yaizu, and remains a leading example of AI practical application, attracting significant attention.

In his presentation, Mr. Shimura touched on the further evolution of "TUNA SCOPE" and addressed the global seafood industry about the revolutionary changes AI-based quality grading will bring to tuna trading.

"Fair and transparent AI grading eliminates the need for bargaining between sellers and buyers, transforming the global tuna business into a smoother, more vibrant one. I would be delighted if Japan's advanced grading standards spread through technology, creating a universal language for quality that connects Japan with the world."

Shimura's presentation also covered the societal impact of "TUNA SCOPE," including efforts to develop a new AI model capable of detecting "toro" from bluefin tuna tail cross-sections—a task previously difficult—along with implementation cases in seafood processing plants and its commercialization as "AI Tuna" in supermarkets and sushi chains.

When he shared his vision of accelerating the digital transformation of the fisheries industry by engaging diverse players worldwide, it resonated strongly with the audience—primarily government officials and fisheries industry representatives from various countries—sparking discussions about new partnerships.

Five years after its announcement, TUNA SCOPE continues to evolve as a product while scaling up as a global business. The challenge persists to broaden its influence as a solution addressing the diverse challenges facing the global fisheries industry.

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