On April 10, the US and Japan revealed a political understanding, featuring a Microsoft collaboration with a focus on AI. Microsoft will inject $2.9 billion into Japan over the next two years, supporting AI, cloud computing, and data centers, alongside training 3 million individuals through digital skills programs. The investment will also establish a Microsoft Research Lab and foster a joint cybersecurity initiative.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) will separately allocate $15 billion to Japan by 2027, bolstering cloud infrastructure for AI and other digital services. Additionally, resource deals were outlined, with NVIDIA supplying GPUs to Japanese firms like Sakura Internet and Softbank, while Google and Microsoft offer computational resources to Japanese entities developing AI models.

A $110 million academic research collaboration between the US and Japan was announced, aiming to propel AI research and development. This initiative builds upon existing quantum computing partnerships and involves universities like the University of Washington, the University of Tsukuba, Carnegie Mellon University, and Keio University, funded by NVIDIA, Arm, Amazon, Microsoft, and Japanese companies.

Further research collaborations involve NVIDIA with Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), the US Department of Energy with Japan’s science ministry (MEXT), and Argonne National Laboratory with Japan’s RIKEN.

The agreement also addresses AI safety concerns, emphasizing transparency through labeling official government content and content generated or altered by AI. Both countries plan to support AI Safety Institutes and cooperate on safety standards, aligning Japan’s AI Guidelines for Business with the NIST AI Risk Management Framework to develop compatible policy frameworks.