"Organize the Data" Japanese Panasonic Introduces AI Assistant

Contracted with Microsoft to Introduce Conversational AI
"Using AI to Enhance Employee Productivity"

“Please extract Japan's GDP and economic growth rate data for the past five years so I can view them at a glance. I will put it into Excel.”

Panasonic Connect, responsible for system development within the Panasonic Group in Japan, is officially introducing conversational artificial intelligence (AI) into its operations. The company has decided to assign a 'junior AI' to all 12,500 employees. The AI introduced in the office will assist with data organization, drafting documents, and more.

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) on the 9th, Panasonic Connect began distributing AI assistants to all employees last month. Utilizing open AI technologies like ChatGPT, Panasonic Connect collaborated with Microsoft in the United States to develop a company-specific AI capable of conversing with employees.

This AI assistant, similar to ChatGPT, responds within 10 seconds when given instructions or questions. It is especially specialized for office tasks, such as extracting statistical data in formats suitable for spreadsheet programs or finding data to include in documents. It can also draft outlines and summarize meetings. According to Nikkei, developers even use the AI assistant for coding.

Before introducing AI, Panasonic Connect informed employees about the characteristics of AI and the rules for its use. They emphasized that AI responses must always be judged by humans and explained that since the AI is better at English than Japanese, it may not respond proficiently if asked in Japanese.

Key points from Panasonic Connect’s official notice include: “Do not assume AI answers are always correct; final judgment and verification must be done by humans,” “Since the AI has learned from publicly available information, it cannot answer questions related to internal company matters,” and “The AI model answers based on the time it was generated, so the information may not be up to date.”

Nikkei reported that introducing conversational AI in Japanese offices is unusual. Many Japanese companies restrict its use due to concerns about internal information leaks or incorrect information. In response, Panasonic Connect has signed an agreement with Microsoft ensuring that data entered internally will not be used for AI training, and they have urged employees not to input personal or company confidential information into the AI to guarantee safety. The response since introduction has been very positive. Within one week of launching the AI assistant, it received over 20,000 questions.

Akihiko Kawano, Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Panasonic Connect, told Nikkei, “You should not think that AI cannot be used just because OpenAI is not perfect yet. Rather, AI can be used as an assistant to increase productivity.” He added, “The ability to skillfully handle AI will determine individual work efficiency, and I hope many employees become familiar with it quickly.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.