A new government survey reveals a stark reality: Japan is falling significantly behind its global peers, such as the United States, China, and Germany, in the race to adopt generative AI. The reasons? A widespread sense that the technology is either unnecessary or too confusing to use.
Japan’s communications ministry released the findings in its 2025 White Paper, showing that only 26.7% of Japanese individuals have used generative AI. This figure pales in comparison to China’s 81.2%, the U.S.’s 68.8%, and Germany’s 59.2%.
The gap is even more dramatic in the corporate world. While over 90% of companies in the other three nations have integrated AI, Japan’s adoption rate stands at just 55.2%.
When asked why they don’t use AI, Japanese respondents gave simple, telling answers. Over 40% said it was simply “not necessary” for their lives or work, while nearly 39% admitted they “don’t know how to use it.”
This apathy extends to the perceived benefits. Nearly 30% of Japanese companies using AI reported “no particular impact” on their business, a sentiment shared by less than 10% of their counterparts in the other countries. The findings paint a picture of a nation hesitant to join the global AI revolution, held back by practical barriers and a lack of perceived value.
