Transcript

Hello and welcome to today’s news from TotemoTech on October 14th, 2023. In today’s news, Tiger Corporation, known for their innovative kitchen appliances, has developed a unique rice cooker called ‘Magic Kamado Gohan’ that uses fire instead of electricity as the heat source. The inspiration behind this development was the concept of ‘mottainai,’ which means ‘waste not’ in Japanese. The company aims to position this rice cooker as a disaster preparedness item, especially in commemoration of their 100th anniversary and the 100th anniversary of the Great Kanto Earthquake. They envision it being useful not only for camping enthusiasts but also for schools and educational purposes. We had the opportunity to speak with the project leader to learn more about the development process and their goals for the product.

Moving on to our next story, Hoshino Resorts has announced a new accommodation plan called ‘Smartphone-Free Stay.’ This plan aims to encourage guests to disconnect from their smartphones during their stay. Upon check-in, guests will have to seal their smartphones in a locked case and write a pledge to embrace a smartphone-free experience. Instead of relying on cameras and social media, the resort will provide guests with a notebook to capture their memories. This initiative by Hoshino Resorts reflects a growing trend of digital detox and the desire to enjoy a more mindful and present travel experience.

In other news, CTC (ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation) has expanded its collaboration with rinna, a communication AI provider. The partnership aims to support the development of enterprise-specific AI generation. By leveraging rinna’s expertise, CTC aims to enhance its offerings in the field of AI-driven communication solutions.

Moving on, the Cabinet Office of Japan has appointed a virtual YouTuber (VTuber) named ‘Utsui Kuriya’ as the PR character for the ‘Space Development Utilization Awards.’ This appointment highlights the increasing popularity and influence of VTubers in various industries, including government organizations.

In the tech industry, Gartner Japan has released the ‘Hype Cycle for Generative AI’ for 2023. The report highlights the current state of technologies such as Large Language Models (LLM) and Prompt Engineering, stating that they are at the peak of inflated expectations. It cautions against excessive hype and emphasizes the need for realistic expectations and responsible implementation of AI technologies.

Shifting gears, Toho Co., Ltd. announced the release of the official guidebook for the movie ‘Kimi-tachi wa Dou Ikiru ka’ (How Do You Live?) on October 27th. The guidebook, consisting of 76 full-color pages, provides fans with additional insights and behind-the-scenes information about the highly anticipated film.

Lastly, LINE Yahoo, a joint venture between LINE Corporation and Yahoo Japan, has introduced ‘GitHub Copilot for Business’ in its engineering operations. This AI programming assistance tool has been implemented for approximately 7,000 engineers, resulting in significant time savings. According to the company, the tool has reduced coding time by approximately 1 to 2 hours, demonstrating its potential to streamline development processes.

That’s all for today’s news from TotemoTech. Stay tuned for more updates and insights on the latest tech trends and innovations. Visit JapanDailyNews.com for the news, yen exchange rates, and a daily Japanese proverb.

Keywords - japan, tech, news