Tech & Innovation

  • Blog
    Rakuten Chief AI & Data officer Ting Cai shares the company’s latest developments in AI and his vision for the future of AI at Rakuten Optimism 2024.

    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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  • Blog
    The telecommunications industry is undergoing a major transformation, and it is one that will benefit the 1.6 billion people without broadband access.

    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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  • Blog
    Rakuten Group EVP and CMO Naho Kono; Samurai Inc. Creative Director Kashiwa Sato; and Professor Jun Suzuki, director of the Center for Language AI Research at Tohoku University took part in a special Rakuten Optimism 2024 panel session on the future of AI and creativity.

    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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  • Blog
    Rakuten Optimism 2024 opened with a keynote speech from Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani, where he outlined Rakuten’s plans to democratize AI.

    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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  • Blog
    In the blink of an eye, the latest GenAI models have become multilingual, understanding different dialogues and even emotional tones, and multimodal.

    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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  • Blog
    Bjorn Laukli, Head of Technology of Rakuten International highlights Rakuten's commitment and crucial efforts to building an AI company.

    Behind the scenes of innovation: The bold moves igniting the AI revolution

    Bjorn Laukli, Head of Technology, Rakuten International The ongoing fascination with artificial intelligence (AI) is driven by its potential to revolutionize businesses and daily life, yet the most transformative advancements being made today often go unnoticed. These advancements are fueled by the diligent efforts of companies integrating AI solutions at an unprecedented pace and scale. Despite c…

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  • Blog
    Rakuten CEO Hiroshi Mikitani and HBS professor Dr. Tsedal Neeley explore Rakuten’s transformation into an AI company at the Leading AI Conference at HBS.

    AI is coming, ready or not: Mickey Mikitani at Harvard Business School

    “If you don’t use AI, whether you’re a small company or a big one, it is going to be very difficult to survive. Your competition is going to be 20-30% more efficient. Sooner or later, you will be in a very difficult position.” Rakuten CEO Mickey Mikitani recently returned to Harvard Business School to chat with HBS professor and Rakuten Group board member Dr. Tsedal Neeley for the Leading with AI…

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  • Blog
    OpenAI COO Brad Lightcap and Rakuten Group Chief AI & Data Officer Ting Cai discuss future AI trends and technologies at an event in Tokyo at Rakuten HQ.

    Rakuten & OpenAI: What’s next in GenAI?

    OpenAI has officially landed in Japan. A strategic AI partner of Rakuten from fall 2023, the company behind ChatGPT has set up shop in Tokyo – their first office in Asia. Rakuten and OpenAI marked the occasion by hosting an event at Rakuten Crimson House, which kicked off with a lecture from OpenAI Solutions Engineer Evan Weiss for Rakuten’s e-commerce and travel consultants. During the talk, Weis…

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  • Blog
    Rakuten Product Conference 2024 brought together tech luminaries, engineers, researchers and enthusiasts from across the globe to discuss two of the hottest topics in technology: enterprise SaaS and AI

    Revolutionizing enterprise SaaS and AI: Insights from Rakuten Product Conference 2024

    On May 21 and 22, Rakuten Product Conference 2024 brought together tech luminaries, engineers, researchers and enthusiasts from across the globe to discuss two of the hottest topics in technology: enterprise SaaS (Software as a Service) and artificial intelligence. Hosted at Rakuten India’s office in the bustling heart of Bengaluru and streamed to a global audience, the conference underscored Raku…

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