Introduction

AI is a transformative technology with the potential to significantly reshape our society and daily lives. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) actively leverages AI as a core driver  to realize the future vision outlined in the Tokyo 2050 Strategy, aiming to create a city where every resident can truly feel a sense of well-being.

Challenges We Face

Tokyo’s population is expected to peak around 2030 and then begin to decline, with estimates suggesting a roughly 10% decrease by 2065 compared to 2020. This demographic shift, combined with a declining birthrate and aging population, is expected to significantly reduce the working-age population, raising concerns about labor shortages. Even in the face of a shrinking workforce, it remains essential to meet diverse and complex needs with precision. The TMG is actively implementing a range of AI-driven initiatives to improve administrative service quality and boost operational productivity.

Formulation of Tokyo AI Strategy

In July 2025, the TMG formulated “Tokyo AI Strategy” to address diverse and complex administrative challenges and labor shortages. For more details, please refer to the link below.

Tokyo AI Strategy

External-Facing Initiatives:

Developing the Tokyo 2050 Strategy Using AI

Tokyo developed the Tokyo 2050 Strategy, a new comprehensive strategy for the city, through an AI-powered listening approach known as Broad Listening. Broad Listening is a method that utilizes AI technology to efficiently gather, analyze, and visualize a large volume of public opinions. In developing the Tokyo 2050 Strategy, 27,000 individual opinions were analyzed and visualized using AI, integrating diverse perspectives into the planning process. In the diagram below, each dot represents a single opinion, and similar opinions are grouped together through AI analysis. This visual representation enabled a deeper understanding of the wide range of views, helping shape the Tokyo 2050 Strategy more inclusively and effectively.

 

Internal-Facing Initiatives:

Generative AI Platform

The TMG, in collaboration with GovTechTokyo, is developing a Generative AI Platform that leverages open-source software to support operational efficiency. This platform enables government staff to create AI-powered applications without requiring programming knowledge.  Each organization can create its own workspace within the platform, allowing them to develop and use generative AI applications in an isolated environment. Potential use cases include building chatbots that allow staff to search manuals and internal documents through natural language interaction, and generating draft documents by referencing past records.

Expected benefits:

• Efficient and Cost-Effective: Users don’t need to set up their own development environments, allowing them to focus on AI App development. This leads to significant efficiency gains and cost savings.
• Shareable Digital Assets: AI Apps created by each user can be shared, and reused by other local governments, creating valuable “Digital Public Goods”. Based on the Tokyo AI Strategy, Tokyo is proactively utilizing the Generative AI Platform in internal operations to enhance administrative efficiency.

Based on the Tokyo AI Strategy, Tokyo is proactively utilizing the Generative AI Platform in internal operations to enhance administrative efficiency.