Tech & Innovation
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Blog
Rakuten inspires young minds to bridge the STEM gender gap
Worldwide, according to the Global Gender Gap Report (2023) by World Economic Forum, women comprise only 29.2% of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) workforce, compared to nearly 50% of non-STEM occupations. In Japan, the disparity is even more stark, with women representing only 16% of graduates in STEM fields. As a pioneer of tech-driven business in Japan, Rakuten i…
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Rakuten Innovation
Rakuten Mobile has surpassed 8 million subscribers
Rakuten Mobile reached a major milestone last month, officially surpassing 8 million subscribers on October 18, 2024*1. And that’s not the only thing that’s increasing – the MNO is also gaining popularity as a primary line. Rakuten Mobile’s MNO main line usage among customers increased the most out of all mobile carriers in Japan according to a recent independent third-part…
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AI-nization 4.all: A look ahead to Rakuten Technology Conference 2024
Experience an exhilarating dive into the future of tech at Rakuten Technology Conference 2024. Set for Saturday, November 16 at Rakuten Crimson House in Tokyo, plus additional satellite venues, the 16th edition of the event will once again bring together a global community of business leaders, engineers, researchers and tech enthusiasts to explore the future horizons of technology. AI-nization 4.a…
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Unlocking Rakuten’s vision for blockchain and Web3 technology
Blockchain and Web3 are more than just buzzwords; they are tangible solutions to some of the tech world’s toughest challenges, transforming digital interactions and transactions today. Fergal Downey, head of Rakuten Blockchain Lab, recently shared his insights on the future of Web3 with employees at Rakuten Crimson House Singapore, highlighting how these emerging technologies are set to drive inno…
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Chief AI & Data Officer Ting Cai unveils Rakuten AI strategy at Rakuten Optimism 2024
Rakuten Chief AI & Data officer Ting Cai outlined the company’s latest developments in AI and shared his vision for the future of the technology in front of a packed business conference audience at Rakuten Optimism 2024. AI and Omotenashi: Designing AI that proactively drives value Cai opened the presentation by referencing a 2016 blog post where Rakuten Group Founder and CEO Mickey Mikitani s…
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Broadband from space to your phone: AST SpaceMobile’s CEO on the future of direct-to-cell connectivity
By Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile The telecommunications industry is undergoing a major and consequential yet not widely understood transformation, and it is one I believe will ultimately benefit the 1.6 billion people on Earth without broadband access. Recent developments in the satellite market signify a building shift across the telecommunications industry, especiall…
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Creativity and humanity in the AI age
In the world of AI, 12 months is an eternity – so much was clear from the exciting new tech on display at the recent 2024 Rakuten Optimism conference. One panel discussion titled AI Accelerates Innovation: The New Frontier of Creativity kicked off with a video introduction from two hyper-real AI avatars, who gave the Optimism audience an effortless welcome in 10 different languages. The avatars th…
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Rakuten’s bold plans to democratize AI
At the recent Rakuten Optimism conference, one powerful message echoed through the halls: AI is for everyone. The event kicked off with a keynote speech from Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani, in which he outlined Rakuten’s plans to democratize AI, the fundamental role Rakuten Mobile must play, and the power of the internet to connect the world’s intelligence. The power of connected i…
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From vision, to strategy, to execution: Ting Cai on building useful products with AI
The world of AI moves fast. In the blink of an eye, the latest GenAI models have become multilingual, understanding different dialogues and even emotional tones; and multimodal, accepting and outputting audio, video and more. In such a rapidly changing landscape, how does one effectively build AI products? Rakuten Group’s Chief AI & Data Officer Ting Cai joined the 2024 edition of Rakuten Prod…
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