#Japan #Tokyo #Konica Minolta #AI Services #Tokyo Schools

Building a New Era with AI in Tokyo's Education

Konica Minolta Japan has recently announced a significant milestone in the field of education by securing a contract from the Tokyo Metropolitan Education Bureau. This partnership aims to develop and expand AI services tailored for public schools, benefitting approximately 160,000 teachers and students. The contract is part of a broader initiative to create a safe and effective environment for utilizing generative AI tools in education.

Overview of the AI Service Contract

The Tokyo Metropolitan Education Bureau has set forth a plan to establish a robust AI utilization framework across all public schools. Starting from the 2024 academic year, they will begin implementation in 20 designated research schools. The official bidding process for reconstructing and enhancing this generative AI infrastructure has been announced, with proposals due by January 31, 2025.

The requirements for the project are clearly outlined:
1. Dedicated Environment for Data: The AI system must ensure that any input data is not used for retraining purposes, providing a specialized environment utilizing at least the performance of GPT-4o mini.
2. User Account System: Both students and teachers will be assigned individual accounts. Teachers will have the ability to upload data for insights from the AI's text data capabilities.
3. Prompt Library Feature: A prompt library will be created, categorized by educational purposes and subjects, allowing easy access and searching capabilities.

By integrating their extensive knowledge and experience in education, Konica Minolta Japan aims to move forward with this transformative project alongside the Tokyo authorities.

Konica Minolta Japan's Commitment to Education

Since 2019, Konica Minolta Japan has been dedicated to addressing various social challenges within the education sector. This includes providing learning opportunities tailored to diverse learning paces and styles and tackling issues such as teacher shortages and demanding work environments. The company's AI-driven learning support service, tomoLinks®, exemplifies this commitment. By introducing collaborative and individualized learning solutions, they leverage data analysis and generative AI as effective educational tools.

These initiatives not only promote more personalized education by maximizing student potential but also aim to incorporate effective data usage in the digital transformation of classrooms. The dual offerings of collaborative learning support and personalized AI assistance are designed to be integrated into school education platforms, nurturing a conducive environment for learning.

The Role of Generative AI in tomoLinks

Within the tomoLinks framework, Konica Minolta Japan offers the conversational AI tool, Chatto Shink™, designed for safe and secure use in schools. Its importance in nurturing information utilization skills and AI literacy is increasingly recognized, highlighting its role in educational settings.

This AI tool supports vital learning processes such as:

• - Identifying problems and setting tasks
• - Deepening individual thinking
• - Organizing and comparing differing opinions

Additionally, the application incorporates robust safety features, including filtering harmful content and monitoring usage levels, ensuring a secure environment for all students, including those under 13.

Upcoming Exhibition at EDIX 2025

As part of its ongoing efforts, Konica Minolta Japan will showcase tomoLinks at the upcoming EDIX 2025 exhibition, focusing on education innovation. This significant event showcases the latest trends and technologies in educational tools.

• - Event: 16th EDIX (Comprehensive Education Exhibition) Tokyo
• - Dates: April 23-25, 2025
• - Hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Closing at 5:00 PM on the last day)
• - Location: Tokyo Big Sight, South Exhibition Hall
• - Official Website: EDIX Expo
• - Konica Minolta Japan Booth: 25-1

This exhibition will provide a platform for educators and innovators to engage with the latest educational developments, and Konica Minolta Japan is excited to be part of this transformative journey.