#Japan #AI #Tokyo #Hotlink #Yamamoto

Hotlink's Innovative Move Towards Full AI Integration

In June, Hotlink Inc., a Tokyo-based company specializing in SNS marketing support, launched an exciting new series on Note titled "The Liberal Arts CTO's Record of Completely AI-ifying the Company". Spearheaded by CTO Masateru Yamamoto, this series is set to illuminate the intricate journey of fully embracing AI in a corporate structure.

Hotlink acknowledges the rapid evolution of generative AI and its potential to transform business practices. The company is pursuing a comprehensive integration of AI aimed at enhancing service quality and improving operational efficiency. Importantly, this isn't just about using AI regularly; it involves a fundamental reassessment and reconstruction of workflows established before the AI era.

The Motivation Behind the Series

The need for this series arises from the common challenge faced by many companies: the implementation of AI technology. While success stories flood discussions, real-life challenges and failures often remain hidden. Notably, there are few examples of individuals without technical backgrounds, like Yamamoto, taking on the monumental task of leading AI integration. This presents a unique opportunity for insights that could benefit similar executives and managers navigating this complex transition.

Yamamoto, a graduate in Economics, has devoted his dedication to bridging the gap between technical and non-technical teams. His aim is to share candid reflections on the hurdles and discoveries faced by someone in his position – particularly the unique perspectives that come from not having a traditional tech background. His insights delve into the direct experiences of companies tackling AI implementation, and the attempt to avoid the pitfalls that might lead to unsuccessful outcomes.

What to Expect from the Series

The series will provide a behind-the-scenes look at Hotlink’s company-wide AI initiative through Yamamoto's personal experiences as a Liberal Arts-trained CTO. He aims to communicate these experiences in accessible language, free of excessive technical jargon, so that others in similar organizational roles may glean valuable wisdom.

As of now, four articles have been published:
1. "Now is the Time to Act" – This piece discusses the reasoning behind the company's decision to fully implement AI and the existing disparities within the workforce regarding this shift. Read more
2. CTO's Role in Reconstructing Development – It explores how Yamamoto has built trust between engineers and non-engineers as he took on the CTO role. Read more
3. “We Implemented AI, But No One Uses It” – Covering the dialogue between management and staff, this article examines the issue of underutilized AI systems. Read more
4. Transformations in Company Meetings – This discussion centers around how AI has altered internal meeting structures and the innovations behind this change. Read more

With a commitment to provide regular insights, Yamamoto plans to update the series approximately bi-monthly. For those interested in exploring these fascinating developments further, be sure to follow his Note account: Note Account.

Who is Masateru Yamamoto?

Masateru Yamamoto holds the position of CTO at Hotlink. After studying economics at university, he gained a wealth of experience across consulting firms and various industry sectors, focusing on R&D, new business development, and planning. Simultaneously, he pursued graduate studies where he examined optimal methods for the organizational utilization of tacit knowledge. In January 2019, he joined Hotlink, recognized for bridging technical aspects with management perspectives, ultimately assuming the influential role of CTO despite his liberal arts background.

His expertise in knowledge management and technological management has proven instrumental in restructuring the development organization and enhancing performance. Today, he is actively at the forefront of leading the company's AI integration efforts.

Yamamoto is also a co-author of the publication, "Technological Strategies for Utilizing Big Data through Text Mining," and holds a patent concerning UGC diffusion mechanisms.

Hotlink's Vision for the Future

Hotlink is positioned to further its transition from traditional labor-intensive services into more value-added areas by integrating AI into processes like SNS marketing. The emergence of this new collaborative approach between humans and AI is gradually becoming a reality.

In their phased implementation strategy, Hotlink has already initiated departmental AI integrations (Phase 01) and the utilization of AI agents in specific operations (Phase 02). They are currently aiming to systematize this knowledge into a framework known as “AIDX” (Phase 03).

Particularly in the SNS support domain, AI agents designed for specific tasks—like content creation and ad management—are enhancing operational effectiveness and establishing a foundation for strategic outputs. They envision a future where humans manage multiple AI systems (Phase 04) and eventually a scenario in which AI autonomously optimizes processes (Phase 05).

Hotlink is committed to continuing its evolution, driven by the collaboration between humans and AI, and striving to deliver faster and more valuable services to its clients.

About Hotlink Inc.

Stock Code: 3680 (TSE Growth)
Hotlink is a core company of the Hotlink Group, which operates in both Japan and the U.S. It specializes in analyzing social big data, which reflects consumers' voices through SNS postings, and supports businesses in their marketing activities, media coverage, and disaster prevention strategies. In the era of Web3, Hotlink aims to leverage its data analysis capabilities to support infrastructures aimed at creating a world where everyone can find "HOTTO" relief.

Foundation: June 26, 2000
CEO: Yasuhira Hino
Headquarters: 1-3-11 Fujimi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo
Business Activities: SNS Marketing Support
Website: Hotlink Website