Is it a good idea to slap QR Codes on Japan’s road signs for self-driving cars? Will unions be able to halt A.I. from taking jobs from the Japanese? How far will Japan go to acquire automated defense capabilities?Show NotesJAPANParasitic worms 'manipulate' praying mantises onto asphalt roads: Japan researchersSOCIETY 5.0In the age of autonomous driving, road signs may become "QR codes" List of anticipated use casesTobu Railway has announced its intention to introduce new autonomous trains on the Daishi Line.Sekisui House launches Japan's first "AI Clone Owner" service that allows home buyers to easily consult with the owner via chatDXYZ's facial recognition platform "FreeiD" introduced to Pressance Corporation's "Presance Grand Kyoto Kawaramachi," the first condominium in the Kansai region to use all facial recognition technologyJapan audio industry calls for appropriate use of AI as voice actors air frustrationsSoftBank taps Nvidia for Japanese 'AI grid' projectPrime Minister Ishiba plans to provide more than 10 trillion yen in public support to the AI and semiconductor industry over seven yearsMicrosoft Research Asia – Tokyo establishedHello Work to use artificial intelligence (AI) to list job vacanciesAI-equipped unmanned demonstration aircraft to make first flight in November 2025, Defense Acquisition Agency official reveals at technology symposium"Fire watchtower" equipped with AI camera installed in Oarai TownChina's Baidu releases the latest version of its autonomous driving platform "Apollo" to the worldNorth Korea tests exploding drones as Kim calls for mass productionDEPOPULATION / MIGRATION102 local Japan traditions halted or lose folk cultural asset status amid population declineJapan's births likely to fall under 700,000 for 1st time in 2024Salmon poachers in Hokkaido likely solicited by foreign language ads onlineSGOTWAmerican tourist accused of defacing gate at Meiji Shrine with fingernails