I Learned About Cutting-Edge AI and IoT at Super University

 ■I Learned About Cutting-Edge AI and IoT at Super University

Super University was a 3-day course held at the Learning of Tomorrow Association to discuss cutting-edge technologies that will nurture next-generation leaders, hold workshops, and develop a community to break down the walls of universities.

There were tens of participants, including young proprietors and potential executives at major companies.

Professors Yutaka Matsuo and Noboru Koshizuka from the University of Tokyo spoke about AI and IoT.

Mr. Matsuo: “The Future of Artificial Intelligence: What Lies Ahead of Deep Learning”

Mr. Koshizuka: “IoT and AI Usage and Data Strategies Toward Society 5.0”

Mr. Matsuo: “Although the media, led by GAFA, is fighting over advertisements, the agriculture, construction, and food industries, which have not implemented automation and AI, are far larger than advertising.”

That is exactly the case. Industry sizes are 6 trillion yen for advertising, 9 trillion yen for agriculture, 50 trillion yen for construction, and 680 trillion yen for food. Education (20 trillion yen) and healthcare (30 million yen) are also massive. They have yet to come on board.

Mr. Matsuo: “Up to this point, the world has built models that can be handled with few parameters within the limits of human cognition. Deep learning allows for analysis and action with numerous parameters.”

In other words, this means that humans will finally accept the limits of their cognition and use technology that goes beyond these limits.

On the other hand, Mr. Koshizuka states, “IoT is a set of technologies, including AI, robotics, beacons, data, wireless, and servers, built around the internet.” He states it “includes everything,” and is “very difficult” because it is a “varied, complex system.”

Although people refer to AI and IoT together, they may have completely opposite traits.

Mr. Koshizuka: “GAFA only has 0.1% of all of the data in the world. The remaining 99.9% of unique and secret data that is dispersed and siloed causes issues in data circulation.”

Although there is a sense of danger when engaging in the same business as GAFA, but what must be done is different. This has the same origin as the business areas to aim for that Mr. Matsuo pointed to.

Mr. Koshizuka: “Let’s allow AI and robots to take our jobs and increase productivity so that things are easier for us.” This follows the same logic as my desire for a “super-bored society.” “The issue is distribution.” The greatest task for the super-bored society where AI and robots work is distribution strategies rather than growth strategies.

“The benefit of AI is that it does not become discouraged. Let’s make them do stressful jobs.

・HR managers in charge of restructuring

・Phone support for customer claims

・Teachers (handling monster parents)”

“Jobs for robots are jobs in which people do not want to be seen by other people and jobs that people do not want other people to do.

・Bathing during nursing

・Electronic bidet”

Many things come to mind. Let’s let them take our jobs.

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The Intellectual Property Plan Somehow Came Together

 ■The Intellectual Property Plan Somehow Came Together

The Intellectual Property Plan was finalized during a council at the Prime Minister’s Office, which the Prime Minister and cabinet members attended.

This is the 10th plan since I was appointed Joint Chairperson.

Since Japanese clothes became mandated as part of the Cool Japan policy during the first round, this means that 10 years have passed since Japanese clothes became required.

First, the 3 pillars of “beyond average,” “fusion,” and “empathy” were established to achieve the “Value Design Society” that was included in the “Intellectual Property Strategic Vision” that was formulated last year.

Beyond average: Enhance individual entities and encourage them to take on challenges

Fusion: Bring together various dispersed entities and accelerate new bonds

Empathy: Create an environment in which values can easily be achieved

Up next was antipiracy measures.

The conclusion was, “Steps necessary to execute comprehensive sets of measures for related ministries and agencies, such as to execute effective copyright education, promote official distribution channels, strengthen international cooperation and execution, establish search site measures, regulate advertisements for pirated sites, and evaluate other potentially effective systems, will be carried out.”

During this term, intellectual property strategies in the field of content received a lot of attention among antipiracy measures, and although it was a great achievement that comprehensive measures were completed, differences in opinion regarding intellectual property and IT also surfaced, presenting a major issue for future attempts to build intellectual property and IT strategies. It would be beneficial to continue to explore intellectual property strategies in the digital age.

“Fusion” measures include the promotion of open innovation, establishment of an intellectual property platform, creation of a system and rules to promote the appropriate use of data and AI, and the realization of a digital archive society.

It was interesting that the revision of approval scheme guidelines for information entrustment features and the introduction of an information bank were brought up.

“Empathy” measures include the construction of a creation ecosystem and the continuous enhancement of Cool Japan strategies.

The preparation of database with rights information in the field of music and the preparation of foreign language metadata needed to enter the global market through international music transmission services are topics related to our Artist Commons and SyncMusic.

An important item was brought up.

“Regarding the facilitation of rights processing, including system revisions involving the handling of neighboring rights for simultaneous transmission, will begin to be evaluated in detail by related ministries and agencies soon within the fiscal year, with plenty of consideration of the will of related parties, and a conclusion will be made regarding the nature of the system will be made within this fiscal year, while also steadily incorporating operational improvements.”

A revision was enacted to the Broadcast Act to allow simultaneous transmission by NHK, but copyright processing is a bottleneck for online transmission. The Japanese system, which requires consent for each instance, is seen as a problem, and rightsholders, such as those in the music industry, have also sought changes to the system. This is the next major theme.

Next, the item from the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry was, “The nature of governance over competitive tournaments will be assessed for sound development of the esports industry.” This is the start of the esports policy.

The last measure brought up was “the operation of a professional university system to assist in nurturing human resources for Cool Japan.” iU, which will be established as a professional university, will assist in this effort.

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Discussion in the House of Representatives Regarding Deliberation on the Broadcast Act - Part 2

 ■Discussion in the House of Representatives Regarding Deliberation on the Broadcast Act - Part 2

○Ideas behind a common platform

・Preparation can be expected for a platform that handles common issues, such as transmission bases, apps, and rights processing.

・Next-generation media measures, such as IP cloud and data analysis, can also be expected.

・Cooperation with the communication and IT industries would be preferable, instead of only working within the broadcasting industry.

○Copyrights issues

・Under the Copyright Act, records and productions can be freely broadcast if a usage fee is paid, but separate approval is needed for transmission.

・In order to facilitate this processing, revising the system regarding online transmission can be considered, but adjustments between private companies (internet/broadcast stations and rightsholders) should be the first priority. NHK is expected to take a lead.

○The impact of simultaneous transmission by NHK on commercial broadcasting

・Commercial broadcasting should continue with free business judgment. This is an environment in which more rich content can be developed using data and AI.

・Various strategies can be seen, as Nippon TV acquired hulu, Fuji TV provides content to Netflix, and TV Asahi developed CA and Abema TV.

○The impact on local stations and their measures

・The question will be how much they have prepared during the 27 years since the theory for fusion of communication and broadcasting was introduced.

・They are holding up well, considering that in 10 years, CD sales have halved and bookstores have been reduced by 30%.

・A major wave is approaching. There may be industry reorganization and consolidation. Management capabilities will finally be questioned.

・Deregulation (the removal of mass media concentration, prefectural and regional licensing) can also be considered, but the will of the industry comes first. The government should not jump the gun on this matter.

・Each station has begun carrying out their strategies, such as offering more regional programming, enhancing events, and bringing in online users. Their activities will be interesting.

○NHK content should not develop overseas

・NHK programs are national assets. They should be utilized to their fullest extent.

・The government is also putting an effort into overseas development of broadcasting content, as the scale has increased by a factor of 4.4 times in the 5 years from 2010.

・There is still latent potential. I would like an effort to be made to cooperate with commercial broadcasting.

○Effective measures for utilizing satellite frequency

・I would like to promote their entry into broadcasting so that citizens can enjoy a richer video culture, but the biggest issue is frequency strain. Satellite waves are a valuable resource.

・It would be meaningful to develop compression technologies, make it possible to broadcast on a small frequency band, and improve and diversify services that promote new entries.

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Discussion in the House of Representatives Regarding Deliberation on the Broadcast Act - Part 1

 ■Discussion in the House of Representatives Regarding Deliberation on the Broadcast Act - Part 1

Having been invited as a witness to the House of Representatives’ Committee on Internal Affairs and Communications regarding the revised Broadcast Act that would clear the path for NHK to simultaneously transmit their regular programming on the internet, I received questions regarding all aspects from Diet members from all parties.

○Why regular simultaneous transmission?

・As the internet becomes infrastructure, being able to receive signals at anytime from anywhere without additional costs strengthens the right to knowledge.

・As normal simultaneous transmission takes place in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and South Korea, as well as for the 4 major networks in the United States, it must be discussed why normal simultaneous transmission is not allowed in Japan.

・This is a policy decision on whether or not the internet is seen as infrastructure. I believe that it became infrastructure 12 years ago.

○Squeezing the private sector

・I understand concerns from commercial broadcasting. However, I cannot believe that there is a national basis for 2.5%.

・Looking beyond simultaneous transmission, it is important to consider the perspectives of how much investment is necessary to improve utility of IT utilization and use of data and AI for citizens, and how a new media environment will be built out in conjunction with commercial broadcasting.

・Under the circumstances of a changing global media environment, including IT, and expansion of foreign businesses into Japan, it is important to consider the perspective of what kind of media foundation and business environment should be prepared.

・Investment by and business costs for NHK should be set while considering these perspectives.

○NHK must not become bloated

・Citizens are unlikely to be understanding if NHK becomes bloated without reviewing its overall business and license fees.

・I would like NHK to thoroughly fulfill its role as a public media outlet of universally good broadcasting and cutting-edge development.

・I would like business expansion to be considered together with the revision of its overall business and license fees, as well as disclosure of information and revised governance.

○The state of license fees

・For the time being, it is appropriate to reach out to non-subscribers through the message screen.

・Considering cord-cutting and internet diffusion trends moving forward, there is a need to revise the license fee system.

・The method of collecting fees and charges regardless of whether or not people watch TV, which is utilized in the United Kingdom and Germany, is also worth referencing.

・Although it is not a tax, it is close to a tax. The understanding of citizens as a whole is a major prerequisite.

○The negative impact of the internet

・The internet is essentially infrastructure now, 10 years on from the introduction of the smartphone.

・While fake news becomes prevalent, communication opportunities and communities that were previously unavailable have been created through social networking services. There is an element in which democracy has been strengthened.

・In order to enrich this culture, education to utilize information is important.

○Regulation of content through fusion of communication and broadcasting

・Japanese broadcasting programs are involved in a system that gives autonomy to the program council at each station and the BPO.

・This system functions effectively and maintains the binary system of NHK and commercial broadcasting, as well as a rich broadcasting culture.

・The internet and content represent the third element in this system. Japan is fine, as it is autonomous and free, but the information literacy of its citizens is important.

○Would it be all right to abolish NHK?

・Europe is transitioning from public broadcasting to commercial broadcasting, while the United States is transitioning from commercial to public. However, Japan has a special binary system.

・Since Japanese TV builds a rich culture, the binary system is functioning. This pillar does not need to be changed.

・How can the internet, which is the third element, be enriched? How to educate these users is worth discussing.

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Revisions Enacted to the Broadcast Act with Approval of Simultaneous Transmission by NHK - Part 3

 ■Revisions Enacted to the Broadcast Act with Approval of Simultaneous Transmission by NHK - Part 3

Now I would like to touch on this revision to the law.

I do not have much of an opinion on the enhancement of governance over NHK, duty of loyalty for executives, and the disclosure of information because they are a matter of course, but there is hope that NHK will finally be able to carry out simultaneous transmission.

In addition to the approval of standards for execution and checks in the form of the requirement to submit plans, NHK will be asked to cooperate with commercial broadcasting for their online business.

Attention is being focused on how this cooperation will go.

Japan should take a similar approach to the United Kingdom and implement strategies based on a foundation that connects NHK and commercial broadcasting.

A simultaneous transmission platform, akin to the TV version of radiko, should be created.

A foundation that connects NHK and commercial broadcasting should be built out to promote IP cloud support and data usage.

A shared platform for broadcast stations should be formed to support promotion.

An IP cloud base should be prepared for delivery to various devices through various transmission paths while also significantly reducing costs.

Viewership activity should be solicited using AI to handle big data on viewership history.

It would be beneficial to create this foundation while cooperating.

In addition, the facilitation of copyright processing is presented as an issue to promote online transmission.

Copyright processing is complicated because the positioning of copyrights differs for broadcasting and communication.

There may be a need to revise the system to improve this matter, but efforts between private companies are the first priority.

It is thought that the role that NHK will play here is significant.

The reason that I personally believe this is happening late is because online support is NHK’s obligation in my mind.

Under the Broadcast Act, the objective for NHK is to provide universally good programming, or in other words secure the national minimum and take a lead in making progress on an international scale.

The reason that the Japanese government is involved in designating NHK as a special public corporation is because it must lead Japan while developing and introducing technology.

On a side note, NTT has been designated as a special public corporation in order to provide reliable service and conduct technological research.

However, NHK has fallen behind in introducing new technologies.

Given its relationship with commercial broadcasting, it is rumored that there is a cap of 2.5% of license fees for NHK in order to avoid squeezing the private sector.

There is no special basis behind this figure from a national perspective.

The total is just short of 20 billion yen, but this is not a scale that requires adjustment on a national scale.

I would like there to be an evaluation on how to invest in this field in the 100 billion to 1 trillion yen scale as a national strategy.

What I would like NHK and the Japanese government to do is to improve utility for citizens.

I would like for it to be possible to watch on multiple networks on multiple devices anywhere at any time.

Next is to flesh out support for commercial broadcasting.

Regarding the aforementioned issue, I would like for a next-generation environment to be developed, even if it means using a larger portion of the license fees and cooperating with commercial broadcasting.

It is not time for petty domestic quarreling, as we must pursue policies from the perspective of how the Japanese media industry can survive on the global scale.

There are major tasks associated with this bill.

A discussion from a long-term perspective is now required.

Various themes come to mind, such as systems specific to broadcasting, such as prefectural and regional licensing and the removal of mass media concentration, the objectives and management style of NHK, and the research and development capabilities for communication and broadcasting.

I believe it would be best to carry out major discussions regarding the future of media.

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Revisions Enacted to the Broadcast Act with Approval of Simultaneous Transmission by NHK - Part 2

 ■Revisions Enacted to the Broadcast Act with Approval of Simultaneous Transmission by NHK - Part 2

To summarize the issues for broadcasting succinctly, it is the lack of growth.

Communication has developed significantly through the internet and smartphones over the 27 years since the fusion theory was put forth.

The internet is also catching up to TV in terms of scope of advertising.

TV is doing well to endure while stagnating.

However, there is a significant discrepancy in terms of strength.

The total aggregate market value of the flagship TV stations in Tokyo is just short of 1.4 trillion yen.

NTT’s operating profit for last fiscal year was just short of 1.7 trillion yen.

All stations could be bought out with the profit from 1 year.

Growth strategies cannot be drawn up with broadcasting alone with such a discrepancy in investment capabilities.

The strategies of the broadcasting and video industry in Japan, including NHK and commercial broadcasting, are in question.

The next wave came long ago.

Around 2010, Google and Apple deployed a strategy called smart TV to turn TV into an online device.

Since then, Netflix, Amazon, and other companies have fleshed out video transmission, and the next wave is crashing in from the United States.

We are in a situation where we must figure out what to do.

There are countries that serve as reference.

An example would be the United Kingdom.

Their industry makeup is similar, as they have the BBC and commercial broadcasting.

They are also being attacked by the United States through Netflix, as they are also an English-speaking country.

In order to resist this attack, the BBC and commercial broadcasting are creating a common platform.

Personnel involved all state that this is a countermeasure against the United States.

In the United Kingdom, hardware and software are separated, and the BBC outsources transmission through radio waves and cables.

Red Bee, the hardware operation company, has introduced a system to manage the content of all broadcast stations on an IP basis, or in other words using software on a cloud environment for transmission.

Content is sent to the cloud and sent to TVs, smartphones, computers, and various devices through radio waves, cables, and various networks.

This is likely the future state of the fusion of communication and broadcasting.

There is also a rumor circulating that the BBC will give up radio waves in 10 years.

There is also the issue of data.

Internet advertising is also nearing TV advertising in Japan, and targeted advertising accounts for 1 trillion yen, which comprises 80% of internet advertising.

The access histories and spending habits of users are analyzed. Advertising became a data-driven business.

Instead of differences in the transmission path, whether it is communication or broadcasting, what is perhaps more decisive these days is whether or not viewer data is used.

However, data is not being used in broadcasting.

In the United Kingdom, an NPO has made it possible for broadcast stations to use data by creating a community of broadcast stations and device manufacturers.

It is said that this is also a plan to counteract the United States.

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Revisions Enacted to the Broadcast Act with Approval of Simultaneous Transmission by NHK - Part 1

 ■Revisions Enacted to the Broadcast Act with Approval of Simultaneous Transmission by NHK - Part 1

Revisions were enacted to the Broadcast Act, clearing the path for NHK to simultaneously transmit their regular programming on the internet.

I was invited to the House of Representatives’ Committee on Internal Affairs and Communications to present my opinion as a witness.

This revision is help up by 3 pillars, but the simultaneous transmission by NHK is attracting attention in particular.

I presented my opinion from a standpoint of agreement, or rather that it should have been enacted even sooner.

Simultaneous transmission on the internet promotes the fusion of communication and broadcasting.

However, the term “fusion of communication and broadcasting” was first introduced in 1992 in a report by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications Council on Telecommunication, and this discussion has existed since 27 years ago.

The IT companies Livedoor and Rakuten purchased broadcast stations in 2005, but no special changes took place until now.

Meanwhile, on the global stage, IT companies fired shots in January 2006 by declaring that they would transmit videos, with a focus on content and broadcast stations from Hollywood, to the global market at an event called CES in Las Vegas in the United States.

Broadcast stations in the United States cooperated with IT companies and began transmitting content one after another.

In Europe, public enterprises like the BBC and Orange S.A. (France Telecom at the time) took a leading role in enhancing transmission.

Since NHK On Demand began in late 2008, Japan lagged behind by 3 years.

The BBC also began simultaneous transmission that year.

Even with NHK’s efforts, there was a delay of 12 years.

A big part of this is that there were no incentives to change because the TV business in Japan, including commercial broadcasting, had been steady.

However, preparations continued to put a system in place.

In the past, there were roughly 10 vertically and horizontally tangled regulatory laws in the field of communication and broadcasting. These laws were consolidated to 4 by loosening the vertical divisions in communication and broadcasting, and the system was revised to make it easier to provide services that run across communication and broadcasting, such as by preparing licenses for radio waves that can be used for both communication and broadcasting.

After 5 years of adjustments, this change was enacted in 2011, and Japan prepared a legal system that was a step ahead of the world.

However, few broadcast stations would go on to utilize this system for business, and NHK’s actions were restricted.

At this time, broadcast stations in Japan were busy preparing for terrestrial digital broadcasting. Terrestrial digital broadcasting succeeded in switching from SD to HD to provide cleaner high-resolution pictures but has failed to use computers for convenience, which is the more important feature of digitalization.

The convenient, fun features have been taken by the internet and smartphones.

In terms of the radio, radiko provides simultaneous transmission, but the introduction of ICT for TV, including NHK, is just getting serious, although on demand transmission for commercial broadcasting is being advanced by TVer and other services.

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