Artificial intelligence leader OpenAI made a significant move into Asia on Monday (Apr 14) with the opening of its first regional office in Tokyo.  The new location marks a key step in the Microsoft-backed firm's global expansion strategy, following offices in London and Dublin.

Also Read... The OpenAI Saga: Turning points and transformations

The company also unveiled a custom GPT-4 model optimised for the Japanese language, a move aimed at deepening engagement with the country's vibrant technology ecosystem.

“We’re excited to be in Japan, which has a rich history of people and technology coming together to do more,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a statement. “We believe AI will accelerate work by empowering people to be more creative and productive, while also delivering broad value to current and new industries that have yet to be imagined.”

OpenAI has appointed Tadao Nagasaki, formerly the president of Amazon Web Services in Japan, as President of OpenAI Japan.  Nagasaki will play a pivotal role as the company seeks to strengthen relationships within the Japanese business and technology sectors.

The Tokyo office will enhance OpenAI's ability to collaborate with existing enterprise clients like Toyota, Rakuten, and Daikin. These companies are already leveraging OpenAI's advancements to streamline complex business operations.

OpenAI sees significant potential for its technology in Japan, a country actively pursuing AI solutions to address challenges such as rural depopulation and labour shortages. The company expressed its commitment to contributing to the local AI ecosystem and aligning with Japan's goals for ethical, inclusive, and sustainable AI deployment.