Government betting on language app powered by anime and AI

Japan plans to develop an AI-powered language-learning app that lets overseas anime and manga fans practice Japanese through conversations with popular characters. Japan is betting it can turn pop-culture fans into fluent Japanese speakers with a potential artificial intelligence-powered language-learning app through which users can practice conversations with popular characters. The app, which is to be developed by the Japan Foundation (JF) at the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following budget approval for the next fiscal year, is expected to be completed by fiscal 2028 and will primarily target young people overseas who are interested in anime and manga. The app will use artificial intelligence to allow users to practice conversations with characters from popular anime and manga. It is also the first time the foundation has incorporated AI into its language-learning services.