Marunouchi Heat Supply Deploys AI on 30km Tokyo Network as Japan Tackles Labor Shortage
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 21
Marunouchi Heat Supply Deploys AI on 30km Tokyo Network as Japan Tackles Labor Shortage
1 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 21
Summary
Marunouchi Heat Supply is using Preferred Networks' PlantPilot to help run a 30km heating and cooling pipeline network under Tokyo's Otemachi district, aiming for more automated operations by 2027.
PlantPilot analyzes sensor data, historical operating records and veteran engineers' know-how to recommend operating decisions, as the company tries to preserve expertise lost through retirements.
Japan's aging population has pushed labor shortages across energy, manufacturing, logistics and healthcare, making AI a tool to augment workers rather than replace them.
370 trillion yen in planned public and private investment by 2040 shows Tokyo is tying AI to a broader industrial strategy, even as Japan trails the US and China in digital champions and unicorn startups.