Tech & Innovation
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Tech & Innovation
Beyond cloud: The future of in-store physical AI and on-device experiences
At this year’s Rakuten AI Optimism, one of the most exciting, future-looking discussions centered on the intersection of AI, robotics and hardware for physical AI and on-device AI experiences. Far from being a sci-fi fantasy, agentic AI avatars, humanoid robots, and AI devices are emerging as practical solutions to real-world challenges in retail and offline environments. AI-p…
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Blog
Rakuten Group’s return to profitability is a milestone for our mission to democratize mobile connectivity
Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO, Rakuten Group For the first time since Q2 2020 – also the full-scale launch of Rakuten’s MNO business – the Rakuten Group has achieved positive net income, with more than 27 billion yen for the second quarter of 2026. Six years ago, many people questioned our decision to build Japan’s fourth mobile network – a decision underpinned by our desire to lower th…
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Blog
Rakuten and HP bring Hybrid AI to Japan with the launch of Rakuten AI for Desktop
This summer marks a new chapter in how people in Japan experience AI on their personal computers. On July 29th, Rakuten Group and HP officially launched Rakuten AI for Desktop, a hybrid AI application bundled with eligible HP PCs in Japan. The result is an experience that offers the privacy and cost efficiency of on-device intelligence along with Rakuten’s cloud-connected ecosystem — all fro…
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Blog
Blockchain powering event tickets for Rakuten’s sports teams
The narrative surrounding Web3 technologies has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. Cryptocurrencies have struggled to fulfill their original promise as everyday currencies and non-fungible tokens have largely faded from the scene after a brief but volatile period in the spotlight. But while the initial hype has cooled, the underlying blockchain technology that powered these innovations remains…
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Blog
How Rakuten Mobile built a Secure Open RAN network
By Krishna Pramod Adharapurapu It’s been six years since Rakuten launched a mobile revolution with the world’s first large-scale commercial Open RAN network. Just as personal computers have replaced mainframes and cloud computing has displaced on-premises data centers, our network has transformed the telecommunications industry – and contributed to a significant price reduction for Japanese…
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Blog
Rakuten Link is becoming the gateway to Rakuten’s Ecosystem
One app for calling, another for messages, yet another for billing – mobile carriers have historically struggled with fragmented user experiences. Rakuten Mobile, however, is pushing things in a new direction. The Rakuten Link app has undergone a steady evolution since its launch in 2020 as a communication tool to enable free domestic calls. With the recent integration of Rakuten AI and…
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Tech & Innovation
Rakuten hosted two-day intensive Codex workshop in Tokyo with OpenAI
Agentic AI capabilities are advancing exponentially – here’s how Rakuten’s employees are staying ahead of the curve. As the capabilities of agentic AI rapidly advance, companies embracing AI are continuing to upskill employees with the latest technologies. But how can organizations ensure employees across the business are unlocking the full potential of the powerful AI agents at their disposal?&nb…
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Blog
When AI starts running physical infrastructure: Rakuten Symphony at Interop Tokyo
What happens when artificial intelligence moves beyond generating text and starts running real-world, physical infrastructure? This was a pivotal question driving discussion at Interop Tokyo 2026. For the past year, the global tech industry has been dominated by standalone generative AI applications. While these tools are fascinating, they often exist in isolation from the actual infrastructure th…
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Navigating the digital wave with Rakuten Maritime’s vision for safer seas
The modern commercial vessel is far more than a steel hull moving cargo across oceans. Today’s fleets operate as floating smart cities, relying on a complex web of automation, cloud data and autonomous systems to sustain global trade. Navigating this hyper-connected reality requires a fundamental overhaul of maritime safety, a challenge that has brought Rakuten Maritime straight to the foref…
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