Japan's Government Will Use AI to Draft Parliamentary Responses
Japan's government will deploy an artificial intelligence system to help draft answers to parliamentary questions, digital transformation minister Hisashi Matsumoto said Friday. The move aims to reduce overtime burdens on government officials.
Matsumoto told the Budget Committee of the House of Councillors that the government would "take the lead and use AI to tackle human resources shortages." He added: "I want to be among the first to use it."
Overwork Remains a Persistent Problem
The decision follows data showing severe overtime across Japan's central government. According to the National Personnel Authority, 5,121 employees logged more than 100 hours of overtime per month in fiscal 2024. Another 7,118 worked more than 80 hours of overtime on average over two to six months.
Both figures exceed thresholds considered dangerous for overwork-related health risks.
Preparing parliamentary answers ranks among the top causes of excessive overtime, along with budget work and legislation drafting. Government officials spend substantial time researching and writing responses to lawmaker questions during parliamentary sessions.
What This Means for Government Workers
AI systems that draft initial responses could free officials to focus on review, refinement, and substantive policy work rather than starting from scratch. The approach mirrors similar efforts in other sectors to reduce administrative burden.
If you work in government and want to understand how AI tools are changing administrative workflows, AI for Government resources can provide practical context. For those managing workload efficiency, AI Productivity Courses cover automation strategies applicable to document drafting and response generation.
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