If you haven’t heard of large language models (LLMs), you must have heard of ChatGPT and Bard. LLMs are a type of artificial intelligence (AI) trained on massive text and code datasets. LLMs can generate text, translate languages, write different kinds of creative content, and answer questions in the form of a conversation.

There has been much excitement in the international LLM landscape over the developments in Silicon Valley, China, and even India. What hasn’t been talked about enough is Japan’s entry into the field.

NEC, one of the country’s most established technological trailblazers, is at the forefront of Japan’s LLM research and development, focusing on real-world applications, such as machine translation, medical diagnosis, and customer service.

But the international corporation isn’t a stranger to AI. Did you know that international space agencies use NEC’s AI to diagnose and troubleshoot their spacecraft? Or that NEC has already produced the world’s most accurate face recognition technology used worldwide in airports and hotels? Given the company’s rich experience in tech, and its state-of-the-art developments in AI, NEC’s foray into developing an LLM doesn’t come as much of a surprise.

Since 2018, NEC has been working with local government organisations in Japan to co-create AI chatbots to help answer FAQS and point residents to the right sources for their queries. NEC's project was based on the idea of co-creation, otherwise known as “open-sourced”, sharing FAQs across different government organisations to improve the efficiency of its chatbots. More than 50 agencies have participated in the project from the initial stages, and the chatbot is now undergoing even more refinement.

Instead of the previous versions of chatbots and menu-driven self-help screens, the next-generation AI-powered virtual assistants create a more “human” experience, which helps to enhance customer service levels, increasing citizen satisfaction.

One of the early adopters is the Policy Bureau of Yokohama City, which uses AI chatbots to answer FAQs and provide information about the city's policies and services. This has freed up staff time, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks.

Another Japanese government body is also using NEC’s chatbots to improve the quality and efficiency of its resident services, answering questions about the city's services and upcoming events, and even helping residents complete online forms. This has made it easier for residents to access the city's services and has improved their overall satisfaction with the city government.