TLDR: A recent report from Japan’s internal affairs ministry indicates that only 26.7% of individuals in the country utilized generative artificial intelligence tools in fiscal year 2024. This figure, while tripling from the previous year, remains significantly lower than adoption rates seen in leading AI nations like the United States and China.
Japan is significantly behind in the widespread adoption of generative artificial intelligence, with a mere 26.7 percent of individuals reporting usage of such tools in fiscal year 2024. This finding was highlighted in the internal affairs ministry’s 2025 white paper, as reported by Kyodo on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
While the 26.7 percent figure represents a notable increase—approximately three times higher than the adoption rate in fiscal year 2023—it pales in comparison to the usage rates in global AI frontrunners. The ministry’s report indicates that the United States boasts a 68.8 percent usage rate, while China leads with an impressive 81.2 percent.
The white paper underscores the critical importance of AI, describing it as a ‘fundamental pillar of the future digital society.‘ It strongly advocates for intensified efforts to promote the application of generative AI across various sectors, including industry and everyday life, to bridge the existing gap.
Analysis of user demographics reveals a generational divide in AI adoption within Japan. The technology is perceived as particularly convenient by younger individuals, with the highest usage rate recorded among those in their 20s, reaching 44.7 percent. Common applications for generative AI among users include information searches, content summarization, and language translation.
Conversely, a significant portion of non-users cited a lack of perceived necessity in their daily lives or work, or simply a lack of knowledge on how to effectively utilize generative AI tools, as primary reasons for their non-adoption.
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Globally, the competition to develop advanced generative AI models, particularly those based on large language models capable of understanding context and producing natural responses, is predominantly led by major U.S. technology companies and Chinese startups. Despite Japan’s lagging adoption rates, the white paper acknowledges that the nation is also making strides in the field, with the development of smaller yet highly capable AI models.
