Name: 日本最大的人工智能獨角獸如何塑造深度學習的未來 (How Japan’s largest AI unicorn is shaping the future of deep learning)
Uploaded: 2025-07-22T18:16:51.000Z
Duration: 14 min 56 s

Hello and welcome to Managing Asia in this first episode of a two-part series.

大家好，歡迎收看《亞洲管理》兩部分系列節目的第一集。

情態副詞

We're diving into the world of innovative Japanese companies that are truly making an impact.

我們將深入瞭解那些真正具有影響力的日本創新企業。

Today, we're shining a spotlight on Preferred Networks, a tech startup that's rapidly using deep learning and artificial intelligence to improve efficiency and accessibility across various sectors.

今天，我們將聚焦 Preferred Networks，這是一家利用深度學習和人工智能快速提高各行業效率和可及性的初創科技公司。

Preferred Networks is one of the largest unicorns in Japan who is leading the charge in artificial intelligence innovation in the country.

Preferred Networks 是日本最大的獨角獸之一，引領著日本人工智能創新的潮流。

Founded in 2014, the company specialises in AI, deep learning and machine learning solutions.

公司成立於 2014 年，專注於人工智能、深度學習和機器學習解決方案。

With strategic collaborations across industries such as robotics, healthcare and autonomous driving, the company is developing smarter technologies to address real-world challenges.

通過與機器人、醫療保健和自動駕駛等行業的戰略合作，公司正在開發更智能的技術，以應對現實世界的挑戰。

I recently sat down with the founders in Tokyo to discuss their journey and how they plan to boost Japan's global tech presence with their innovations.

最近，我在東京與這幾位創始人進行了座談，討論了他們的心路歷程，以及他們計劃如何通過創新推動日本在全球科技領域的發展。

Both of you founded Preferred Networks in 2014.

你們兩人都在 2014 年創立了 Preferred Networks。

Today, Preferred Networks is one of the largest unicorns here in Japan.

如今，Preferred Networks 已成為日本最大的獨角獸企業之一。

Nishikawa-san, as CEO, what was your vision for the company?

西川先生，作為首席執行官，您對公司的願景是什麼？

Were you trying to use AI and deep learning to solve pressing social problems and issues here in Japan?

您是否試圖利用人工智能和深度學習來解決日本國內緊迫的社會問題？

We are trying to create a lot of new value in the world by focusing on computers and computer science, which we love.

我們正試圖通過專注於我們所熱愛的計算機和計算機科學，為世界創造大量新價值。

Our vision is to make the world a better place by making the latest technology available in the shortest possible time, and we are working on various real-world issues.

我們的願景是在最短的時間內提供最新技術，讓世界變得更美好，我們正致力於解決現實世界中的各種問題。

As the chief executive researcher, how challenging has it been for you to realize this vision that you've created for yourselves?

作為首席執行官研究員，實現你們為自己創造的這一願景對你們來說有多大挑戰？

For the past 10 years, we have been working on using AI to solve real-world problems.

過去 10 年來，我們一直致力於利用人工智能解決現實世界中的問題。

We have been working on a wide range of issues, including cars, robots and medicine.

我們一直致力於解決各種問題，包括汽車、機器人和醫學。

And in the real world, each field has its unique problems.

而在現實世界中，每個領域都有其獨特的問題。

For example, there are fields where there are data problems, there are fields where AI technology itself is still underdeveloped.

比如，有的領域存在數據問題，有的領域人工智能技術本身還不發達。

There was also the problem that society had not yet demanded it.

還有一個問題是，社會還沒有提出這樣的要求。

We have been solving these problems one by one over the years.

多年來，我們一直在逐一解決這些問題。

Well, this vision of yours certainly attracted the attention of Toyota.

你的這一設想無疑吸引了豐田公司的注意。

They became a key investor in your company, and in two preferred networks.

他們成為貴公司和兩個首選網絡的重要投資者。

Nishikawa-san, as CEO, what does it feel like to have one of the biggest automakers in the world as a key investor?

西川先生，作為首席執行官，世界上最大的汽車製造商之一成為您的主要投資者，您有何感想？

We have received a large investment from Toyota, but I cannot give details about what is currently in progress.

我們從豐田公司獲得了一大筆投資，但我不能透露目前進展的詳細情況。

When we first received the investment, we had a strong desire to apply AI to the field of automated driving.

最初獲得投資時，我們就有將人工智能應用於自動駕駛領域的強烈願望。

With this in mind, we received investment from Toyota and accelerated this business.

有鑑於此，我們獲得了豐田公司的投資，並加快了這一業務的發展。

And one area they were hoping to address with its autonomous driving technology is Japan's trucking industry.

他們希望利用自動駕駛技術解決的一個領域是日本的卡車運輸業。

The technology would mean that elderly truck drivers remain active in the workforce, while reducing the physical and mental strain that comes with long hours on the road.

這項技術意味著老年卡車司機可以繼續活躍在工作崗位上，同時減輕長時間在路上駕駛帶來的身體和精神壓力。

As part of our current efforts in the field of automated driving, we have invested in a company called T2.

作為我們目前在自動駕駛領域所做努力的一部分，我們投資了一家名為 T2 的公司。

This company is kind of a joint venture that originally came around through a collaboration between us and Mitsui & Co.

該公司是一家合資企業，最初由我們與三井物產株式會社（Mitsui & Co.

The field we are currently working on is the automated driving of trucks.

我們目前正在研究的領域是卡車自動駕駛。

The problem in the world of logistics is that you have to drive for many hours, and sometimes you have to drive late at night.

物流世界的問題是，你必須長時間開車，有時還必須在深夜開車。

However, there is a problem in Japan that the number of truck drivers is decreasing.

然而，日本存在卡車司機人數不斷減少的問題。

Like any unicorn, the ultimate ambition is to list one day.

就像任何獨角獸一樣，最終的目標是有一天能上市。

Investment is also necessary for software development, but compared to software, investment in hardware requires a much larger amount of money.

軟件開發也需要投資，但與軟件相比，硬件投資所需的資金要大得多。

In order to raise such large-scale funding, we believe that raising funds from the market will become essential in the future.

為了籌集如此大規模的資金，我們認為今後從市場上籌集資金將變得至關重要。

Therefore, we aim for an IPO as one of the goals of our business.

是以，我們將首次公開募股作為企業的目標之一。

I'm here with Toru Nishikawa, co-founder and CEO of Preferred Networks, one of Japan's largest tech unicorns.

現在在我身邊的是 Preferred Networks 公司的聯合創始人兼首席執行官西川徹，該公司是日本最大的科技獨角獸之一。

He is giving me an exclusive look inside the company's chip room, where all the groundbreaking research and development takes place.

他讓我獨家參觀了公司的芯片室，所有突破性的研發工作都在這裡進行。

One of their most impressive achievements is the creation of Japan's most powerful supercomputer, developed in collaboration with Kobe University, the MNCore AI processor series.

他們最令人印象深刻的成就之一是與神戶大學合作開發的日本最強大的超級計算機--MNCore AI 處理器系列。

Your MNCore series managed to top Green 500's list for the world's most energy-efficient computer chips.

你們的 MNCore 系列在 Green 500 全球最節能計算機芯片排行榜上名列前茅。

In terms of software and architecture, I'm looking at the chips now.

在軟件和架構方面，我現在正在研究芯片。

What software and hardware architecture and design went into creating these chips?

這些芯片的軟硬件架構和設計是怎樣的？

For hardware, we focus on how much computing power we can pack into a limited number of transistors, and we use a very unique architecture.

在硬件方面，我們關注的是在有限的半導體中能容納多少計算能力，我們使用的是一種非常獨特的架構。

In addition, through tuning and optimization using software has enabled us to create a high-performance chip.

此外，通過使用軟件進行調整和優化，我們還製造出了高性能芯片。

We have been able to greatly increase the performance per power.

我們能夠大大提高組織、部門功率的性能。

When you talk about AI technologies, you cannot not talk about the big elephant in the room, NVIDIA.

說到人工智能技術，就不能不提房間裡的大象--英偉達™（NVIDIA®）。

How do your proprietary MNCore AI processors compare to the chipsets made by NVIDIA?

貴公司專有的 MNCore AI 處理器與英偉達公司生產的芯片組相比有何優勢？

By focusing on deep learning and AI, we are creating more advanced processors and are aiming to gain a competitive advantage by only installing what is necessary for the use of AI.

通過專注於深度學習和人工智能，我們正在創造更先進的處理器，並通過只安裝使用人工智能所需的設備來獲得競爭優勢。

We believe that this approach will help us maintain our competitive advantage.

我們相信，這種方法將有助於我們保持競爭優勢。

Okanohara-san, when it comes to developing those AI processors, do you have NVIDIA in mind when you want to beat them in terms of speed, in terms of power?

岡野原先生，在開發這些人工智能處理器時，當您想在速度和功率方面擊敗英偉達時，您是否會想到英偉達？

One of the things we place importance on is performance and efficiency per unit of power.

我們非常重視組織、部門功率的性能和效率。

The biggest issue for all semiconductors in the next generation is that they require more power.

下一代所有半導體的最大問題是需要更多的功率。

But this also generates heat and limits the amount of computing power they can perform.

但這也會產生熱量，限制它們的計算能力。

The processors and related devices we are currently developing are chips that handle data transfer, and they require a lot of power.

我們目前正在開發的處理器和相關設備都是處理數據傳輸的芯片，它們需要大量的電力。

We are working hard to install new innovations into these important areas as quickly as possible to give us a competitive advantage.

我們正在努力盡快將新的創新技術引入這些重要領域，以增強我們的競爭優勢。

NVIDIA is the dominant player in the entire generative AI industry.

英偉達是整個生成式人工智能行業的主導者。

As a tech startup here in Japan, do you think Preferred Networks has what it takes to really beat NVIDIA in this field?

作為日本的一家技術初創公司，您認為 Preferred Networks 有能力在這一領域真正擊敗英偉達嗎？

Regarding our processors, for example, NVIDIA dominates the field of AI.

以我們的處理器為例，英偉達在人工智能領域佔據主導地位。

But of course, we aim to break into this field.

當然，我們的目標是打入這一領域。

And as DeepSeek has shown, even if you don't have the most advanced hardware, you can still create cutting-edge models by improving software.

正如 DeepSeek 所顯示的，即使沒有最先進的硬件，也可以通過改進軟件來創建最先進的模型。

I think that in the future, various players will enter the world of chips and continue to create new products.

我認為，未來各種參與者都將進入芯片世界，並不斷創造新產品。

Okanohara-san, I want to talk to you about China's open-source AI model, DeepSeek, trying to shake up NVIDIA.

岡野原先生，我想和你談談中國的開源人工智能模型 DeepSeek，它試圖撼動英偉達。

Are you trying to change your own AI strategy as a result?

您是否正試圖是以改變自己的人工智能戰略？

First of all, even before DeepSeek became famous, we thought it was a company with very good technology and paid close attention to it.

首先，在 DeepSeek 成名之前，我們就認為它是一家技術非常出色的公司，並對它給予了密切關注。

So, to some extent, we expected it to achieve the position it has now.

是以，在某種程度上，我們期望它能取得現在的地位。

I think some companies will continue to strengthen their models as they have been doing, while others will challenge themselves to take a new approach and break new ground.

我認為，一些公司將一如既往地繼續加強自己的模式，而另一些公司則會挑戰自己，採取新方法，開闢新天地。

I think DeepSeek was the first to take the lead in this.

我認為，DeepSeek 是這方面的先行者。

When you look at the AI technologies out there, it seems that the US and China are leading the race.

縱觀目前的人工智能技術，美國和中國似乎處於領先地位。

As founders of preferred networks, do you want to change that?

作為首選網絡的創始人，你們想改變這種狀況嗎？

We have been working on semiconductors, and we have also been focusing on several areas in the field of AI, and as a result, we hope that the Japanese industry will become more competitive through us.

我們一直在研究半導體，也一直在關注人工智能領域的多個領域，是以，我們希望通過我們提高日本產業的競爭力。

Above all, we want to provide our products and services to the world in the future.

最重要的是，我們希望在未來向全世界提供我們的產品和服務。

Preferred Networks is leading the way in AI innovation with Plamo, its open-source large-language model, which the company built from scratch.

Preferred Networks 憑藉其從零開始構建的開源大型語言模型 Plamo，引領著人工智能創新的方向。

Plamo excels at Japanese-specific tasks, while also supporting multiple languages, including English.

Plamo 擅長日語任務，同時也支持包括英語在內的多種語言。

I sat down with Daisuke Okanohara to learn more about Plamo's capabilities and the company's vision for its future.

我與 Daisuke Okanohara 坐在一起，進一步瞭解了 Plamo 的能力和公司的未來願景。

The Plamo tool now supports 30 languages as well, but our most current interest area is the H-site.

Plamo 工具現在還支持 30 種語言，但我們目前最感興趣的領域是 H 站點。

Therefore, we focused on robotics, automobiles, or industrial sites.

是以，我們重點關注機器人、汽車或工業場所。

In robotics or automobiles, this is a promising field because maybe the generative AI technology can change the world.

在機器人或汽車領域，這是一個大有可為的領域，因為也許人工智能生成技術可以改變世界。

Therefore, maybe it is challenging to get money only from the LLM business, but we may find a way to get money from such a robotics or other H-site business.

是以，也許僅從法律碩士業務中獲取資金具有挑戰性，但我們可能會找到從機器人或其他 H-site 業務中獲取資金的方法。

In terms of leadership and management style, are both of you very different or very similar?

在上司和管理風格方面，你們兩人是非常不同還是非常相似？

I think there are a lot of similarities in our management styles.

我認為我們的管理風格有很多相似之處。

In terms of management style, it has changed a lot over the last 10 years, depending on the state of the company.

就管理風格而言，在過去 10 年裡發生了很大變化，這取決於公司的狀況。

When the number of employees was quite small, the organizational structure was quite flat.

在員工人數較少時，組織結構相當扁平。

But as the number of employees gradually increased, we created a more structured organization in order to make it easier to gather opinions and easily share them.

但隨著員工人數的逐漸增加，我們建立了一個結構更加合理的組織，以便更容易收集和分享意見。

In terms of leading and managing the employees, how do you differ from Nishikawa-san?

在上司和管理員工方面，您與西川先生有何不同？

I'm more of a person who trusts and delegates to others, and if there are talented people, I will select and promote them.

我是一個比較信任他人和委以重任的人，如果有人才，我會選拔和提拔他們。

In the first place, our company is involved in various projects, so I will choose and promote people who are suitable for each project.

首先，我們公司參與了各種項目，所以我會選擇和提拔適合每個項目的人。