In Japan, a select group of innovative individuals consistently propel the evolution of the nation's economy. I've had the privilege of knowing a few of them, and they frequently contribute their insights through Japanese channels. However, due to the language barrier, it can be challenging for foreigners to grasp these discussions. Thus, allow me to translate some intriguing insights from a recent episode on Newspick, which delved into how engineers are navigating the era of AI.
You can find the episode here: https://newspicks.com/live-movie/3499.
Historically, the Japanese economy, post-World War II, thrived on its "mono-tsukuri ものつくり" or manufacturing culture. However, starting from the 1960s, with the emergence of manga spearheaded by animator Osamu Tezuka (whose iconic creation, Astro Boy, debuted on TV in 1963), Japan cultivated a new career path for content creators among the younger generation. More recently, with the advent of social media platforms, becoming a YouTuber has become the number one aspiration for high school boys.
An intriguing development highlighted in a recent survey by Sony Life (conducted in 2023) is that the second most coveted profession among school boys is IT programming (17%), closely trailing behind professional sports players (15%). For a comprehensive list of survey results, refer to Figure 1 below.
Figure 1. Top Dream Jobs for Secondary School Boys (Research from Sony Life, 2023)
This new trend is great for Japan as there is an expected grow in the Industry. According to the Ministry of Economic, Trade and Industry (METI), by 2030, Japan needs about 2 million IT engineers assuming annual productivity growth of 0.7%. Currently based on the growth of the IT engineers, there will be a shortage of 790,000 engineers.
The question arises: How can Japan leverage AI to drive the growth of its IT engineering sector? Two intriguing perspectives have emerged.
Executives in Japanese companies must become more adept in IT. They need to integrate IT into their business strategies. In Japanese culture, there's a term called "On-Chi, 音痴," which signifies ignorance in technology. It's not uncommon for C-suite executives in Japanese companies to refer to themselves as "IT-Onchi," indicating their lack of IT knowledge. According to Sawa-san, my former colleague at Microsoft, individuals with this mindset would likely face dismissal in Western companies. However, in Japan, it is surprisingly tolerated. Yet it will change.
There's an opportunity to recruit IT engineers from non-traditional backgrounds, particularly from the Art Faculty. Historically, IT engineers predominantly came from science backgrounds. However, now, students from the Art Faculty can contribute, especially in utilizing generative AI. The artistic skills of these individuals could aid in crafting aesthetically pleasing prompts, resulting in the generation of high-quality code.
What mindset should people adopt to prepare for transformation? Many individuals harbor fears about AI replacing their jobs. Sawa-san offered a compelling analogy to assuage these concerns. In 1900, the streets were filled with horse-drawn carriage, but within a mere decade, these were entirely supplanted by automobiles. While technology evolves rapidly, the fundamental need to transport oneself from one place to another remains constant. Sawa-san advises people to focus on these enduring needs and view AI as a tool to facilitate them.
Another perspective, shared by Ueda-san, a CTO at a consulting firm, underscores the importance of prioritizing business problem-solving over mere technological advancements.
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