TOKYO - Japan's Defense Ministry is considering introducing U.S.-developed artificial intelligence into command and control for Self-Defense Forces units, sources close to the matter said Monday.
The aim is to speed up decision-making by using AI to support battlefield analysis, target analyses and the issuance of orders, the sources added.
The ministry also plans to use Japan-made systems to avoid excessive dependence on a particular country or company, the sources said, though concerns remain over the military use of AI, including the risk of mistaken strikes and blurred accountability.
With international rule-making showing little progress, experts say careful debate is needed before any rollout.
One candidate is Palantir Technologies Inc.'s Maven Smart System, an AI tool that can aggregate and process vast volumes of classified data collected from satellites and reconnaissance aircraft. The system is said to have been used by the U.S. military in operations against Iran.
Japan's Defense Ministry fears that failing to utilize AI could leave it trailing adversaries in the speed and accuracy of decision-making in contingencies, as well as hamper coordination with its ally, the United States.
"If it is made in the United States, it is a proven technology," a senior member of the SDF said.
Taking into account the need to protect classified information and invest in domestic companies, the ministry also plans to use Japanese-made AI in tandem, with Sakana Fugu, developed by Tokyo-based startup Sakana AI K.K. a leading option, according to the sources.
One idea is for Sakana Fugu to serve as a command hub, allocating tasks such as analysis and evaluation to multiple AI systems, including U.S.-made ones, depending on the situation and purpose.
In its basic policy on promoting AI use formulated in July 2024, the ministry noted that AI has limitations in dealing with unprecedented situations as it learns from existing data.
"How to ensure appropriate human involvement in decision-making is something we must work out going forward," a senior ministry official said.
