Transcript

Hello and welcome to today’s news from TotemoTech on July 5th, 2023. The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) has developed a large-scale language model specialized in Japanese, with 40 billion parameters. The model was created based on 350GB of Japanese text collected from the web. In other news, Nature has announced the release of a low-cost smart remote control called ‘Nature Remo nano’ that is compatible with the Matter standard. Priced at 3,980 yen, this new device provides users with an affordable option for controlling their smart devices.

Moving on, JR East has revealed its plans to start selling discounted train tickets for people with disabilities through its ticket reservation service ‘ekinet’ starting from February 2024. However, it is important to note that registration with the My Number Card portal is required to avail of this service.

In the gaming world, furniture brand Bauhutte has announced the launch of a gaming chair called ‘Streamer’s Chair G-210,’ which utilizes an optical illusion to make the user’s face appear smaller when seated. This unique chair aims to enhance the gaming experience while providing a visual effect.

In a move to assist individuals who may have difficulty remembering their PIN numbers, the Japanese government plans to issue My Number Cards without requiring an assigned PIN. This initiative primarily targets elderly individuals and those with cognitive impairments and is set to begin in November.

Sanwa Company has introduced a new wearable fan called the ‘Waist Belt Fan 360,’ priced at 8,480 yen. This belt-type wearable fan can be wrapped around the waist, allowing users to experience a refreshing breeze from five different fan outlets, resembling a transformation belt.

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has released interim guidelines for the use of AI text generation, such as ‘ChatGPT,’ in elementary and middle schools. These guidelines aim to provide educators with a framework for utilizing AI in student assignments, including considerations for the upcoming summer vacation period.

In the world of finance and SaaS management, the concept of ‘Trust-Type Special Purpose Company (SO)’ has caused a stir. The recent interpretation by the National Tax Agency has resulted in significant changes to the tax treatment of Trust-Type SO, potentially increasing financial and administrative burdens for affected startups. Experts are analyzing the impact and implications of this new tax regulation. And that’s all for today’s news. Thanks for listening to TotemoTech.

Keywords - japan, tech, news