KDDI announced on October 29 an agreement with Google Cloud Japan to develop a 'responsible' AI search service that displays only content consented to by creators. The service will leverage Google's AI assistant Gemini and is set to launch in spring 2026. It aims to build a generative AI search model that respects copyrights.
Major Japanese telecommunications firm KDDI signed an agreement on Tuesday, October 29, with Google Cloud Japan to develop a 'responsible' AI search service that only shows content creators have consented to. The agreement allows KDDI to harness Google's AI assistant Gemini and AI-optimized research tool NotebookLM.
In a statement, the company said: 'We will promote 'responsible AI' that uses AI ethically, legally, and appropriately, and provide an environment where content providers and customers can use AI safely and securely.' The service is planned to launch in spring 2026, focusing on searching contents from Japanese media and websites about living information with generative AI assistance. It will answer users' questions via text or voice messages tailored to their interests and concerns.
By limiting the media content for which it obtains usage permissions, KDDI aims to build a search engine model using generative AI that respects copyrights. Six companies are participating, including Kakaku.com Inc., which operates a price comparison website; Natasha Inc., which distributes music news; and Renga Inc., which runs a site for condominium reviews. KDDI plans to expand partners to news media and consider proper compensation for them.
KDDI President Hiromichi Matsuda said at a business event on Tuesday: 'We will connect [users and companies possessing the content] through a system that is beneficial for both.' Unpermitted use of news articles and other content by generative AI programs has become a worldwide problem, with lawsuits alleging copyright infringement. There are also fears that such AI use may spread information of unknown veracity, making it a task to secure the reliability of AI services.
This partnership highlights efforts to advance ethical AI utilization.