January 5, 2025

Starting in 2025, the Japanese and US Governments will Initiate Collaborative Research on Cyber Attacks Leveraging Artificial Intelligence

A research institute affiliated with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications will establish a new base in Washington. The institute will combine the US's leading defense technology with Japan's data on attacks specific to non-English-speaking countries. This will address the risk of multilingual attacks, which are feared to increase rapidly with generative AI.

The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), operating under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, will establish the research foundation. Researchers from NICT will work with MITRE, a non-profit organization involved in research and development funded by the US government. Japan's digital transformation (DX) will benefit from leveraging the US's advanced expertise in cyber defense technology.

US cyber defense research primarily focuses on attacks in English-speaking countries, and there is limited data regarding attacks in non-English speaking countries. Given the growing concern that attack methods once used in non-English speaking countries may be directed at the US due to advancements in translation technology powered by generative AI, Japan will leverage the data on attacks in non-English speaking countries that it has gathered.

The United States recognizes that AI-driven cyber attacks present threats similar to those affecting national security. It remains vigilant towards China and has positioned itself as a crucial ally in combating cyber threats in Asia, while also expressing optimism about broadening collaborative research initiatives.

A survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications reveals that fewer than 20% of companies in Japan intend to actively use generative AI, compared to 46% in the United States and 71% in China. Additionally, 70% of Japanese companies believe that employing generative AI "increases security risks," while this concern rises to nearly 80% in both the United States and China.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications emphasizes encouraging generative AI usage while reducing associated risks. By fiscal 2025, it intends to formulate guidelines for countering AI-driven cyberattacks and will introduce a specialized website to display recent examples of AI applications cyberattacks.

The initiative will also endeavor to establish a system that employs artificial intelligence to collect information regarding cyberattacks globally and to detect indications of attacks directed at the nation at the earliest possible opportunity.