Behind rise of Japan’s data centersーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS
Next, Japan is experiencing a wave of data center construction nationwide, necessary for storing all kinds of data online. Driving this boom is the rapid rise of generative AI. But with this comes problems. This Tokyo based startup develops software for autonomous driving. To train generative AI on the vast amount of data collected from sensors, it relies on data centers. Currently, the Tokyo metropolitan area is experiencing a rush in data center construction. This map reveals roughly 90% of these centers are concentrated in the Kanto and Kansai regions, the country’s major economic hubs. But the government is moving to change this. Given the potential for natural disasters, it understands the need to distribute data centers more widely across the nation. The key to achieving this will be to attract local companies to using data centers. An expert says many operators remain hesitant to expand into local regions as they can’t gauge future demand. It’s true that most data center operators are still planning to use remaining land in the Tokyo city area. I don’t think we’re yet at a stage of expanding into rural regions without a clear plan. But some local companies are starting to use data centers in their area. This manufacturer develops safety devices for trucks. When a person is detected in the red frame, the driver will be notified by a red indicator on the screen and an alarm. Kagawa Prefecture introduced the company to a data center operator and offered a perpetual subsidy of up to 5 million yen, about $34,000, which sealed the deal. It’s a huge advantage to be able to use a local lowcost data center while consulting with a local operator. We’d like to commercialize our safety device by improving the AI’s performance. Observers say to gain inroads in regional areas, operators should be transparent with local communities on matters such as environmental and economic impact. Ultimately, they should show how data centers can contribute to their industries and public services.
The Japanese government is promoting the expansion of data centers to regional areas to cope with the demand for generative AI. #japan #business #ai #generativeai
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