OpenAI sets up first Asia office in Tokyo, names ex-AWS exec as Japan head

Tadao Nagasaki, OpenAI’s new Japan head / Photo credit: Nagasaki’s LinkedIn page

ChatGPT developer OpenAI has set up its first Asia office in Tokyo and named Tadao Nagasaki, the former president of Amazon Web Services Japan, as country leader.

Nagasaki was with AWS Japan for nearly 12 years and has over 30 years of work experience in tech companies including Dell.

“I believe AI technology has the potential to transform the way we live and work and improve the overall quality of life,” he wrote in a Linkedin post.

Nagasaki will oversee OpenAI’s commercial and market engagement initiatives in Japan and help build a local team.

The AI firm said it chose the country for its tech prowess, culture of service, and openness to innovation. Japan’s strategic location also places it closer to companies like Daikin, Rakuten, and Toyota Connected, which are already using its services to automate and assist in day-to-day operations.

US-based OpenAI has also launched a GPT-4 custom model optimized for the Japanese language that “operates up to 3x faster than its predecessor.”

“We believe AI will accelerate work by empowering people to be more creative and productive,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a statement.

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