Japanese Prime Minister Proposes AI Legislation Amid Rising Concerns

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has called for legislation aimed at minimizing the dangers and risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI), Anadolu Agency reported. Speaking to lawmakers, Ishiba emphasized the importance of AI in addressing Japan’s low productivity issues. He stated, “We need to create a basic plan on how we can promote research and development as well as the use of AI in a safe and secure way.”

However, passing such legislation may be challenging, as Ishiba’s ruling coalition lacks the necessary support in the lower house of parliament. He noted the pressing need to balance the convenience of AI with safety measures.

The urgency of this initiative comes as Chinese startup DeepSeek’s new chatbot has gained significant attention, becoming the most downloaded free application in the U.S. Investors have expressed surprise at its competitive performance against established AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. U.S. officials have raised concerns about potential national security threats posed by the Chinese app.