Sci-Fi No More: Creations to Address Societal Dilemmas

"I want people to have the awareness of the issues affecting Japan," says University of Tsukuba Associate Professor Yoichi Ochiai. Artificial intelligence, 5G wireless networks, and other technologies can be harnessed to address social challenges unique to Japan, says Yoichi Ochiai, an associate professor at the University of Tsukuba and CEO of Pixie Dust Technologies Inc. The 5G network is set to enter commercial service in Japan next spring. It will "have an enormous impact on our communication media . . . Improving the service infrastructure for the elderly, including taxi-hailing apps and automatic transcriptions for those with hearing difficulty, is vital to independent living, Ochiai says.