Japan's minister responsible for steering the country's artificial intelligence strategy has surprised observers by revealing she avoids using AI tools in her own work.
Onoda Kimi, who was appointed last October, holds the portfolio for AI, science and technology, space policy, intellectual property and economic security in Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's cabinet. She made the admission during a press conference on April 10. “For the time being, I do not feel the necessity of using AI in my own duties,” she said, adding that she would consider it only when a clear need arises.
The comment has drawn attention because Onoda is widely seen as a rising star in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Her wide-ranging brief makes her the public face of Tokyo's push to turn Japan into what the government officially calls “the most AI-friendly country in the world.”
At the same briefing, Onoda described AI as “an extremely useful tool” that has rapidly entered daily life and contributes to national strength. She also highlighted risks, including the need to guard against errors generated by the technology and concerns about its impact on children's development.
Despite her personal caution, Onoda has made expanding AI literacy a policy priority. She called for greater exposure to the technology in schools so that young people can “correctly understand AI's characteristics” and use it effectively. The day before the press conference, she instructed the government's specialized AI Strategy Advisory Council to focus on developing the skilled workforce needed for an AI-driven society. The council is currently revising Japan's AI Basic Plan, which must be updated annually under legislation passed last May, with a new roadmap and investment targets due this summer.
The government formally adopted the current plan in December 2025 and has pledged roughly one trillion yen (about US$6.9 billion) for AI-related initiatives. From May 2026 it will begin rolling out a dedicated government AI system named “Gennai” to more than 100,000 civil servants, with plans to equip over 300,000 public employees with generative AI tools eventually.
The contrast between Onoda's institutional enthusiasm and her personal non-use has prompted some analysts to ask whether Japan's top-down AI transformation can maintain momentum. The country is racing to close the gap with global leaders in AI adoption while balancing innovation with safeguards.
Source:
-Sankei Shimbun, April 10, 2026 (primary reporting on the press conference; republished via Yahoo News Japan and ITmedia News)
-Official press conference by Minister Onoda Kimi, April 10, 2026 (full video via TBS NEWS DIG)
-Government of Japan, Artificial Intelligence Basic Plan (Cabinet Decision, December 23, 2025; provisional English translation):
Japan's Minister in Charge of AI Strategy Doesn't Use AI — and Sees No Reason To
Onoda Kimi (小野田紀美), 44, serves as Minister of Economic Security in the Takaichi Sanae Cabinet. She is of Japanese-American descent, with an American father and a Japanese mother. (AP)
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