Sunday, April 16, 2017

How AI is used in business with 7 examples


・Start of blog greetings and Introduction

I work at a tech startup in Tokyo. When I was a student, I worked with BASIC programming, then moved on to HTML, CSS, and web service development with Ruby on Rails, and then deep learning using Python. Currently I serve as CtoC Web service business manager and SaaS model Web service business manager. I do product development as a hobby.
For the background of why I started blogging, I felt that some content is hard to understand when it is just talked about. For example, questions frequently asked from clients or in an interview. It is possible to share the document in the form of a blog so I thought that I could help others by starting this blog now.
The target audience is for those on the business side who are interested in startups and technology. If you have basic knowledge of HTML and CSS and experience in project management, I think that you can understand the contents.
Furthermore, since this is not a developer’s blog, I will describe the technical content simply so that it is easier to understand for those who are not engineers. Regarding the special technical contents of deep learning, it is out of the scope of this blog, so please understand (since I think that it might be unsatisfactory for an engineer).

・About Deep learning

1:Frequently asked questions about AI

http://qiita.com/sakaiakira/items/9da1edda802c4884865c
I think that not only the startup industry but also major companies are paying attention or are becoming aware of artificial intelligence so I think it should be easy to understand machine learning and deep learning well. I feel that the definition often differs for each book.
Current AI is in a period called the third AI boom, and there were some circumstances for its demise in the past two booms. However, this time a breakthrough called Deep learning has occurred, coupled with the spread and development of the Internet, I believe that it has driven artificial intelligence.

2:What is AI? Machine learning and deep learning

In the first place, what is Deep learning? For this question, deep learning itself is a part of machine learning. Basically, Deep learning adds functions for a "computer itself to think" such as extraction of features and figures. In addition to machine learning, it has mainly recommendation functions centering on supervised learning. This is a famous turning point, and Google has produced results that can distinguish images of cats.

3:American AI Startups


・About Affectiva(Image Recognition, Emotion Recognition)

http://www.affectiva.com/#what-you-can-do http://www.affectiva.com/
Affectiva, well known as a startup for Deep learning, was founded by Rana El Kaliouby and Rosalind Picard from MIT Media Lab in the United States. This company succeeded in analyzing emotions from facial expressions by analyzing human facial expressions around the world for about 50,000 people in 30 countries and extracting their features. It calculates and utilizes methods for advertising effectiveness as a business. It has already raised 33.72 million dollars (more than 3.5 billion yen), and it is a startup that will be drawing much attention in the future.
I met you when I came to Japan and felt you had a lot of charisma.

4:Japanese AI Startup


・ABEJA

http://tech-blog.abeja.asia/entry/object-detection-summary
Meanwhile, ABEJA, a deep learning service for retailers, is in Japan. As a start-up since 2012, it has developed services that utilize deep learning, and has already raised 850 million yen. In addition to programming, I feel that it is progressing one step ahead of the other startups by developing a GUI awareness service.
   

・Preferred Networks

http://www.todaishimbun.org/pfn-nishikawa20160724/ https://www.preferred-networks.jp/ja/
In addition, Preferred Networks is listed as a company that is drawing attention in automated operations and IoT by partnering with Toyota Motor Corporation and Fanuc. They have hired excellent engineers to have high technical capability. They are also collaborating not only for cars but also drones, and it is a startup that can be expected to rise in the future, and has already procured more than 1.8 billion yen.

5:Utilization of AI from major American companies


・Google

http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1611/16/news085.html https://www.google.co.jp/
GAFA (Google-Apple-Facebook-Amazon) has an overwhelming presence in the world's leading companies, and Google is leading programming libraries. Deep learning technology is used for Google translation, and it is getting more accurate and has the power to continue to improve accuracy by continually learning.
   

・IBM

https://www.ibm.com/jp-ja/
On the BtoB side, IBM's Watson is entering various areas including call centers, medical systems and so on. IBM is reinforcing its AI department not only for engineers but also on the business side, I feel that the point is to break into affecting businesses compared to an engineer-oriented company.

6:Utilization of AI at major Japanese companies


・Recruit

http://www.recruit.jp/meet_recruit/2016/01/it02-2.html http://www.recruit.jp/
For a major Japanese company, Recruit invites talent from the MIT Media Lab in the United States and utilizes a large amount of data to develop new solutions one after another. Recruit is working on building a system that can utilize artificial intelligence even for business-side talents who are not engineers, and more than 4,000 employees have already been able to utilize AI.

Mizuho Bank

https://robotstart.info/2016/09/29/mizuho-watson-yt.html https://www.mizuhobank.co.jp
Also, Mizuho Bank is proceeding with AI use in its call centers and has replaced call center operations that were supported by outsourcing to AI. By the way, what is being tried here is IBM's Watson.

5:Trying to implement Deep learning

I am using Python when implementing Deep learning myself. It is convenient to use for beginners to experienced people, and it is convenient to be able to handle the development on the server side as it uses the same development language. The library is also substantial and it is possible to do development from a state where packages are prepared to some extent rather than from a zero base.

6:Important things for Deep learning

As for deep learning, not only programming but also the original data and its quality are important points. If there is no clean data, the learning effect will be diminished. For example, it is difficult to do deep learning that can improve in stages even if low quality data is loaded many times. Therefore, how do we build a learning cycle and continue learning good quality data? Good data is required.
Also, with respect to data, it is necessary not only to have data but it needs to be normalized so that it can be used as a database. For this point, contents belonging to the field of statistics rather than programming are included.
Although there is not much data available in Japan, in the United States it is more available to use data. I am trying to do deep learning by trial and error, mostly by reading in American data.
How can you get good quality data? I think that it is an important point in Deep learning.

At Kabuku, where I work, we are looking for talent who can change the world through democratization of the manufacturing industry.
If you want to hear our story and feel like coming to visit our office, please click the button below.
In addition, this blog and wantedly will cover information not only about Kabuku but also about various information on technology and startups. If you are interested, please by all means follow me.
Writer Masafumi Asakura

Sunday, October 9, 2016

TOTAL PRIZE AMOUNT: ¥1,000,000! Rinkak & Unitcom will Co-hold the International 3D Printing Contest「LEVEL∞ AIR VENT HACK DESIGN CONTEST」


■   Entry site (released in late August)
DomesticJapan(Japanese):https://www.rinkak.com/jp/contest/level_infinity_airventhack
OverseasGlobal(English):https://www.rinkak.com/us/contest/level_infinity_airventhack




■ About the “「LEVEL∞ AIR VENT HACK DESIGN CONTEST”」

The ¥1,000,000 “「LEVEL∞ AIR VENT HACK DESIGN CONTEST” 」is an international
3D design contest co-held by “「LEVEL∞”」, the brilliant gaming PC brand,
and Rinkak, the marketplace focusing on 3D Printing technology.
By using 3D printing technology, the customers will be able to individualize
 the air outlet partsvent on the PC case. And now we are inviting everyone
 to join this attractive contest and make innovations!

For the winners, the total prize amount will be ¥1,000,000, their works will
 be sold on Rinkak.com, and they will get support to help sell the products at
 the retail shops.

And all the participants will be given a prize for actively engaging in this event.
 We are waiting for you!

■ About “「LEVEL∞ AIR VENT HACK」”

It is a gaming PC brand that developed by the high-spec PC line “「LEVEL∞”」,
and can be individualized by 3D printing technology.



■  Entry Guidelines
Based on the openpublic 3D data of the air outlet partsvent, which is placed on
the front ofon the gaming PC case of the gaming PC “「iiyama PC LEVEL∞」”,
 designers will be able to use 3D printing technology to customize different styles.
In order to seek for a wide varietydiversify ideas and insights, we are opening
3 different categories:
Art: ideas with styling and fashion
Product: ideas with convenience and practicability
2D Graphic: 2D graphic designs with characters or patterns


■ Screening criterion
・Idea’s originality
・A good sense of art and design
・Possibility to customize the PC
・Feasible for 3D printers
(for 3D printing materials, please refer to the following link: https://www.rinkak.com/jp/materials?hl=en)

■ Examiners
・Tamaho Shigemura (CEO of Algorithm Design Laboratory Inc. / Architecture & Environment Ddesigner/ BIM Cconsultant)
・Yuji Fujimura (Autodesk Fusion 360 Evangelist)
・Yasuhide Yokoi (Kabuku Industrial Designer)
・Toshiya Takahashi (Technical Writer)
・Yuji Takashima (CEO of MCJ)


■ Total Prize Amount
・1 Million Yen in total
・Sales support from the hosts
・Participation Prize (all participants)

■ Entry Qualifications
・For those who are interested in designing, regardless of being a professional, amateur, or the country you come from.
・Ideas published at other awards, contests or media can also be applied.
・A Rinkak account will be needed.

■ How to apply
・Please prepare the 3D data of the design file and apply through the entry site.

※ the entry site is expected to be released in late August

■ Schedule
・Starting date: August 23, 2016
・Deadline: 23:59 October 18, 2016 (JST)
・Announcement of results: November, 2016 (planned)

Oct 9,2016/By Masafumi Asakura

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Kabuku and Honda co-develop a 3D printed vehicle to be exhibited at CEATEC JAPAN 2016 from Tuesday, October 4th.






Kabuku Inc. (head office: Shinjuku, Tokyo; CEO: Masahiko Inada; referred to below as “Kabuku”) and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (head office: Minato, Tokyo; President/CEO: Takahiro Hachigo; referred to below as “Honda”) have jointly developed a vehicle that utilizes 3D printing technology.  It will be exhibited from Tuesday, October 4th to Friday October 7th at CEATEC JAPAN 2016 which is held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan.







For this joint development, Kabuku took advantage of the “Rinkak Mass Customization Solution” to provide on-demand digital manufacturing of customized products to meet a variety of user needs by offering comprehensive body design, engineering and manufacturing options.





Toshimaya Corp. (head office: Kamakura, Kanagawa; President: Haruhiko Kubota; referred to below as “Toshimaya”) in particular faced a problem of finding a delivery vehicle that could be used for local deliveries and also for economical advertisement.  Kabuku provided them with the jointly developed mass customized vehicle that reflected their individual needs.



The location of the head office of Toshimaya is in Kamakura where there is the challenge of narrow roads in the area for their home delivery business.  They continued to use a standard vehicle there because the development of a promotional vehicle is time consuming and costly. Kabuku was able to provide a mass customized original vehicle by responding to their individual needs for design, engineering and manufacturing by utilizing 3D printers. 









Also, the total development process was shortened to about two months while still offering an original vehicle with reduced time and costs.  By using “Rinkak Mass Customization Solutions”, the project could take advantage of rapid 3D design, a mold-less development process for 3D printers and a digital manufacturing factory network.



Furthermore, the vehicle created from this project will be announced at “CEATEC JAPAN 2016” held at Makuhari Messe from Tuesday, October 4th to Friday, October 7th.


Kabuku will continue to implement the development of mass customized products in all areas using “Rinkak Mass Customization Solutions” and taking advantage of its digital manufacturing technology and factory network.






■ “CEATEC JAPAN 2016” Exhibition Overview

Theme: Connecting Society, Creating the Future
Dates
Tuesday, October 4th to Friday, October 7th, 2016
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Venue
Makuhari Messe, Nakase 2-1, Mihama, Chiba
CEATEC JAPAN official website
URL:
http://www.ceatec.com/ja/
Honda Booth Location Hall Booth Number S93 https://www.ceatec.com/ja/exhibition/detail.html?id=6812
Panel discussion A panel discussion with external experts on the theme “Transforming manufactured goods into good experiences – Open innovation and mass customization”.

■ About Rinkak
Rinkak is the brand name of the digital manufacturing marketplace and 3D printing services offered by Kabuku Inc.

■About Kabuku Inc.
Kabuku Inc. (http://www.kabuku.co.jp) develops products and services that fuse hardware, software and design with core digital fabrication technology. “Rinkak Business (https://www.rinkak-services.com/ja/business/) offers 3D printing technology solutions to corporate clients, supports activities of digital creators around the world and has been involved in advanced technology research with industry, government and academia.

 In 2014 Kabuku joined in a business partnership with Dentsu and has worked with Toyota, Olympus, Microsoft, Square Enix, Loft, Conran Shop, Calpis, Fuji TV, TBS and Hakuhodo. In addition, “Rinkak Factory (https://www.rinkak-services.com/ja/factory/)” provides business critical cloud services for manufacturing factories using 3D printers and “Rinkak 3D Printing Manufacturing Management ServiceRinkak 3D Printing  MMS(https://www.3dprinting-mms.com/ja/)” offers a partner program to contract 3d printed manufacturing work from customers around the world.


Oct 5,2016/By Masafumi Asakura










Thursday, September 22, 2016

The metal 3D printer trend in Japan.



METI, announced that they are going to launch a project for metal 3D printing after 2017.
The project is not only for development of material, but also the process.
The name of program is “Technological Development for Next-Generation Industrial 3D Printers and Ultra-High-Precision 3D Shaping Systems.”




In the case of 3D metal printers in Japan, Toshiba Corporation and Toshiba Machine Co, Ltd. have already developed a prototype 3D metal printer in 2015.



Toshiba and Toshiba Machine are going to continue development on the prototype to secure further increases in fabrication resolution and speed. The companies aim to bring the printer into practical use in or after 2017.

https://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2015_11/pr2501.htm















In the global market, EOS is one of the most famous 3D metal printers.  EOS is pioneer in technology and leader in quality in the field of additive manufacturing.

http://www.eos.info/en





I think for the manufacturing industry, the effect of 3D metal printers is not small.
From 2014 to 2015, the demands from the consumer side was large, and from 2016 the demand of the industrial side will have more growth in Japan.


Sep 22,2016/By Masafumi Asakura









Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Singapore market and Japan market



In the case of the IoT Japan market, Singapore is an important country.
There are two reasons for this importance.

First of all, it is the distance between Japan and Singapore. Almost all of the places in the USA and EU are over a 10 hour flight away. That is a problem in the view point
of travel. For example, if some company visits a Japanese 3D printing factory, it takes a few days to go from the USA or EU to Japan and back.




Secondly, there is a problem about time differences. There is a least a 16 hour time
difference between Japan and Silicon Valley. That's a big barrier even in the case of a Skype meeting.

https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/usa

So, Singapore is better than the USA and EU in these points.

Let me share the more detail about Singapore actions about 3D printing.


In the case of Singapore, the government drives the 3d printing industry.
First of all, there is the Singapore Centre for 3D printing.

http://sc3dp.ntu.edu.sg/aboutus/Pages/About%20Us.aspx

The Singapore Centre for 3D printing (SC3DP) was built at Nanyang Technology University (NTU).



Though there is some government support of the 3d printing industry in Japan,the formation of support for the 3D printing industry in Singapore is
better than Japan in 2016.





Best regards,

Masafumi Asakura


Wednesday, August 31, 2016

IoT market in Japan,

Regarding the Japan market, there are several issues in the IoT industry,
and one of the important issues to compete in the Global (Japan?) market is human resources.

Though there are several news sources, according to the International Data Corporation(IDC), the total sales reached 34.5 billion yen. And the 3D printing market grew with 4.4 percent over 2015.

http://www.idcjapan.co.jp/English/index.html

So the Japanese market is growing, and there are several opportunities to expand 3D printing business.But, there are 2 main issues for companies targeting the Japanese 3D printing market.

First, there is a language barrier. In almost all the prefectures, it is tough to communicate
in English. By the EF EPI(English Proficiency Index), the ranking of Japan is 30/70.

http://mediakey1.ef.com/__/~/media/centralefcom/epi/downloads/full-reports/v5/ef-epi-2015-japanese.pdf

In the case of Tokyo, the situation is different, but in other prefectures it is very tough to communicate in English. Many factories are located not in Tokyo but other prefectures, therefore the problem of language barrier is  a serious issue.

Second, there is a problem of culture differences. Japanese language is high context language.
As a result, in business settings miscommunication happens easily. If business managers do not have a JLPT(Japanese Language Proficiency Test) 1, it's not easy to communicate with the local market in Japan.

http://www.jlpt.jp/e/index.cgi

What's the solution? One important factor is how to hire local employees who can communicate in English. Whether their contract is full time or not, this will be helpful to drive business in Japan.

Sep 3,2016/By Masafumi Asakura