The engine of innovation is freedom
Over more than 25 years of building Rakuten into a global innovation company, one truth has remained constant: Genuine innovation can only flourish to its full potential in an environment of freedom.
True innovation rarely emerges from top-down directives or rigid hierarchical structures. Instead, breakthrough ideas come from environments where diverse voices can speak freely, where conventional thinking can be challenged, and where failure is accepted as part of the journey.
This isn’t just a business philosophy; it’s a fundamental principle that applies to companies and nations alike. And it’s one we’re proving every day through two of the most transformative technologies of our time: mobile networks and artificial intelligence.
Democratizing mobile and AI
When we entered the telecommunications industry with Rakuten Mobile, we didn’t just aim to become another carrier; we set out to revolutionize how mobile networks are built and operated.
Our embrace of cloud native technologies built around open specifications embodies our philosophy of openness and freedom. By uncoupling hardware from software, Open RAN breaks the chains that have traditionally bound telecoms to expensive, proprietary solutions.
We were the first major mobile carrier to fully embrace this approach, and our freedom-forward approach to mobile networks has sparked a wave of innovation across the industry.
The connection between freedom and innovation becomes even more critical as we enter the AI era. The massive amounts of data required for AI applications make affordable, unrestricted connectivity crucial.
This is why we’re committed to making mobile networks accessible to everyone – because when you combine unrestricted connectivity with accessible AI tools, you create an environment where innovation can truly flourish.
We believe that AI truly belongs to everyone. Within Rakuten, we are pursuing “AI-nization,” an initiative to empower each and every one of our employees with powerful AI tools. We also unveiled Rakuten AI for Business in 2023, making practical AI tools accessible to companies of all sizes in conjunction with our strategic AI partners.
Our philosophy of freedom isn’t just about democratizing technology. It’s about unleashing the innovative potential that exists in every business, regardless of their size or resources.
A culture of free expression
As Rakuten’s CEO, I often hear proposals that I think have a 99% likelihood of failing. Yet, I believe in giving these ideas a chance. Why? Because freedom of expression isn’t just about the immediate outcome. It’s about building a culture where people feel empowered to think differently and take ownership of their ideas. This approach has led to some of our most successful innovations.
Creating a culture of freedom means fostering an environment where every voice matters. That’s why at Rakuten, we’ve intentionally designed our offices without the traditional “president’s office.”
While this might seem like a small detail, it speaks to a larger truth: physical and organizational hierarchies can become barriers to the free flow of ideas. We’ve recognized that innovation requires breaking down these barriers – both literal and figurative.
This principle extends far beyond corporate walls. Look at the global technology landscape: countries with the strongest innovation ecosystems are invariably those that protect freedom of expression. Conversely, when societies restrict the free flow of information and ideas, they ultimately constrain their innovative potential. Even in an era of AI and advanced monitoring, you cannot fundamentally alter the internet’s nature as a tool for breaking down information barriers.
At Rakuten, our goal isn’t to control or direct innovation, but to create the conditions where it can naturally emerge. True innovation isn’t easy; it’s messy, unpredictable and often challenging. But that’s precisely why freedom is so essential. When we restrict expression or limit the flow of ideas, we’re not just constraining current innovation – we’re limiting our long-term potential.
The future of innovation doesn’t belong to those who can build the highest walls or establish the strictest controls. It belongs to those who can create the most open, free and dynamic environments where ideas can collide, compete, combine and ultimately transform into something new.
