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Record STMT-W64F357Voluntary

AI Guidelines for Business

Guidelines State lawEastern Asia · JPadopted

The AI Guidelines for Business Ver1.0, established by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Japan on April 19, 2024, provide unified guiding principles for AI governance. The document integrates three previous guidelines to establish soft law recommendations based on a goal-based and risk-based approach across the AI lifecycle. It details specific responsibilities for AI developers, AI providers, and AI business users, incorporating international frameworks such as the Hiroshima AI Process.

Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.

Who issued it

Ministry of Internal Affairs and CommunicationsGovernment (executive) · JP
Lead issuer
Ministry of Economy, Trade and IndustryGovernment (executive) · JP
Co-issuer
Legal forceVoluntary
Under whose authorityState law
Judged fromfull text

Who it governs

CompaniesNational governmentAI developers and providersAI deployers and usersResearchers and academics

AI business actors including developers, providers, and business users should read this to understand voluntary compliance and risk management practices for safe and secure AI deployment.

Sectors
Cross-sector

What the document contains

What's covered

The document covers basic philosophies, common guiding principles, advanced AI system requirements, agile governance models, and specific obligations for AI developers, providers, and users regarding safety, fairness, privacy, security, transparency, accountability, and education.

What's missing

The guidelines lack legally binding force, direct civil or criminal penalties, and specific technical specifications or code implementations.

Key takeaways
  • The guidelines establish a unified, non-binding soft law framework for AI governance in Japan, integrating prior R&D, utilization, and governance guidelines.
  • A risk-based approach is emphasized, requiring countermeasures to be proportionate to the severity and probability of hazards across the AI lifecycle.
  • AI business actors are categorized into developers, providers, and users, each with distinct responsibilities spanning safety, fairness, privacy, security, transparency, and accountability.
  • The framework incorporates international consensus principles, notably aligning with the G7 Hiroshima AI Process for advanced AI systems.
  • Agile governance cycles involving multi-stakeholder engagement are promoted to continuously manage evolving AI risks and societal impacts.
Principles it states
Human dignityDiversity and inclusionSustainability
Outline
· Preface
· Part 1 Definitions
· Part 2 Society to aim for with AI, and matters each AI business actor works on
· Part 3 Matters Related to AI Developers
· Part 4 Matters Related to AI Providers
· Part 5 Matters Related to AI Business Users
Issued19 April 2024
Length15,782 words · 37 pages
FormatNot recorded
Scopenational

How it scores

Pending review

Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.

Accountability

4/5

Clear responsibility for AI outcomes

When developing, providing, or using an AI system or service, it is important that each AI business actor executes its accountability to stakeholders within reasonable extent for ensuring traceability

Part 2 C. Common Guiding Principles 7) Accountability

screening score · 2026-10-23

Fairness

4/5

Non-discrimination and equitable treatment

During the development, provision, or use of an AI system or service, it is important that each AI business actor makes efforts to eliminate unfair and harmful bias and discrimination against any specific individuals or groups

Part 2 C. Common Guiding Principles 3) Fairness

screening score · 2026-10-23

Human Dignity

4/5

Respect for the inherent worth of persons

Based on the social context of AI use, respect human dignity and the autonomy of individuals.

Part 2 C. Common Guiding Principles 1) Human-Centric

screening score · 2026-10-23

Privacy

4/5

Protection of personal data and private life

It is important that during the development, provision, or use of an AI system or service, each AI business actor respects and protects privacy in accordance with its importance. At this time, relevant laws should be obeyed.

Part 2 C. Common Guiding Principles 4) Privacy protection

screening score · 2026-10-23

Transparency

4/5

Openness about how AI systems work and are used

When developing, providing, or using an AI system or service, based on the social context when the AI system or service is used, it is important that each AI business actor provides stakeholders with information

Part 2 C. Common Guiding Principles 6) Transparency

screening score · 2026-10-23

Impact Assessment

4/5

Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use

Each AI business actor first conducts an environment and risk analysis for the AI system or service based on the benefits and risks the AI system or service may bring about during the overall lifecycle

Part 2 E. Building AI governance

screening score · 2026-10-23

Topics

ai_governance risk_based_approach agile_governance generative_ai human_centric_ai