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Amid the rapid development of the global artificial intelligence industry, the US AI startup Anthropic officially announced on June 24 that it will open its first Asia-Pacific office in Tokyo this fall. This news undoubtedly injects new vitality into the AI ecosystem in Japan and the entire Asia-Pacific region. Founded in 2020, Anthropic is committed to developing AI technologies centered around human needs, with the philosophy of building safe and controllable AI systems to better serve society through technology. The company is leading in this field.

Meta has announced the rollout of several new features for its Ray-Ban smart glasses, including real-time translation, Instagram messaging, and calling. Initially available only to select users in a preview program, these features are now available to all Ray-Ban Stories users. The real-time translation feature, first revealed at Meta Connect 2024, underwent limited testing in select countries last December. Now, users can utilize this feature in supported markets.

Waymo, the autonomous driving division of Alphabet, has announced plans to launch tests of its self-driving car technology in Tokyo in early 2025. This will mark the first time the company's autonomous taxis operate on public roads outside of the United States. The expansion into Japan is part of Waymo's 'Road Trip' initiative, aimed at deploying its technology across multiple cities and conducting field tests, each facing unique challenges. In Tokyo, Waymo’s autonomous taxis will encounter different traffic conditions compared to the U.S., including left-side driving.

Microsoft Research recently inaugurated its newest laboratory in Tokyo, Japan, marking a significant step in the company's AI research initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region. Leading the lab is former Osaka University professor and senior researcher at Microsoft Research Asia, Kazuya Matsushita, who returns to Microsoft with ten years of academic experience to embark on a new chapter. The new laboratory will focus on fields such as embodied AI, health and welfare, neuroscience, social AI, and industrial innovation, aligning closely with Japan's socioeconomic development priorities. Through deep collaboration with local academia and industry, the laboratory aims to contribute to global innovation.

According to a report by Kyodo News on the 29th, Japan is facing a serious declining birthrate issue, with the number of marriages in 2023 dropping below 500,000 for the first time, marking a new low in 90 years. To tackle this challenge, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has developed an AI matchmaking software called 'TOKYO Connect,' which was fully launched in September this year. The core feature of this software is its ability to use artificial intelligence for matching. Users are required to complete 110 questions on values and personality traits, after which the AI recommends highly compatible matches. Once matched, users can communicate through the software and arrange offline meetings.