One-Third of Japanese Companies Now Use Generative AI, Survey Finds
More than one in three Japanese companies have adopted generative AI for business operations, according to a survey of over 10,000 firms conducted in March by The Yomiuri Shimbun and Teikoku Databank Ltd. An additional 14.2% said they were considering using the technology.
The survey reached 10,312 companies out of 23,349 contacted, covering small, midsize and large organizations across Japan.
How Companies Are Using AI Today
Document work dominates current use cases. Nearly half of companies using AI - 45.1% - said they use it for writing, summarizing or proofreading text. Information gathering came second at 21.8%, followed by idea generation during planning at 11%.
Administrative automation remains rare. Only 1.3% reported using AI for accounting and expense calculations, and just 0.5% deployed it for customer service automation.
The Skill Gap Problem
Two challenges dominate company concerns. The accuracy of AI-generated information topped the list at 50.4% of responses, followed closely by a lack of specialized personnel and expertise at 41.3%.
Among companies already using AI, roughly one in five reported a widening capability gap between employees who can effectively use the technology and those who cannot. Some companies saw employees submitting similar opinions and reports, suggesting reduced diversity in thinking. A smaller group - 4% - said workers had become dependent on AI, eroding their own skills and motivation.
Most companies using AI reported no negative impacts so far. Two-thirds said they had experienced no problems.
What Operations Leaders Should Know
For operations professionals, the survey highlights a practical tension: AI adoption is spreading, but organizational readiness lags behind. Companies recognize AI's value for routine document handling and research, yet struggle with two operational realities - ensuring output quality and building internal capability.
The skill gap represents the more pressing issue for operations teams. As AI tools enter workflows, the difference in competency between trained and untrained staff directly affects output quality, process consistency and team dynamics.
Learn more about generative AI and LLM applications, or explore how to address AI for operations challenges in your organization.
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