In order to inherit the business philosophy of its late founder Konosuke Matsushita, Japan's Panasonic Electric Company has developed an AI avatar. This is not only a technological innovation, but also a new attempt at inheriting corporate culture. In this digital age, how to pass on the valuable experience and wisdom of corporate founders to the new generation of employees has become a challenge faced by many companies. Panasonic chose to use AI technology to pass on Konosuke Matsushita's ideas in a more convenient and easier-to-understand way. This is undoubtedly a case worth learning from. The editor of Downcodes will give you an in-depth understanding of the development process of this AI and the meaning behind it.
The famous Japanese electronics company Panasonic recently announced the launch of an artificial intelligence (AI) version of its late founder Kōnosuke Matsushita. Konosuke Matsushita passed away in 1989, but Matsushita Electric hopes to use this technology to help a new generation of employees better understand and inherit the management philosophy of its founder.
Picture source note: The picture is generated by AI, and the picture authorization service provider Midjourney
With the development of the company, the number of people who have received personal training from Matsushita Konosuke has gradually decreased, which makes Matsushita Electric urgently need a new way to maintain the continuation of the founder's philosophy. "We believe it is very important for employees to correctly understand Konosuke Matsushita's management philosophy, which is also the basis of our basic management policies and should be passed down from generation to generation," the company said.
This AI was trained by analyzing 3,000 recordings of Konosuke Matsushita, as well as his books, lectures, and interviews. The materials were digitized by the Peace and Happiness Through Prosperity Institute (PHP Institute), a subsidiary of Panasonic. Panasonic worked with the Matsuo Research Institute of the University of Tokyo to develop an AI character that can imitate the thinking and expression style of Konosuke Matsushita.
Panasonic plans to further expand this project and will work on developing similar AI tools for Konosuke Matsushita’s direct contacts and researchers in the future to help users refer to the founder’s thoughts and emotions in management decisions.
Konosuke Matsushita enjoys a lofty status in the Japanese business community and is known as the "God of Management". His leadership philosophy has far-reaching influence. He has authored more than 40 books, many of which are still considered must-reads for professionals, such as 1968's "Which Way" explores personal success and self-improvement, and another "Not Just for Bread" It focuses on the social role of business.
The launch of virtual AI this time will not be regarded as weird by the Japanese people. On the contrary, respecting the predecessors is a norm in Japanese culture. This technology not only enhances Panasonic's experience and capabilities in the field of AI, but also injects new vitality into its development in emerging fields such as electric vehicle batteries, hydrogen energy, digital office and supply chain software.
Panasonic's use of AI technology to inherit corporate culture not only reflects its respect for the founder's spirit, but also provides new ideas for other companies. In the future, similar technology applications may become more and more common, helping enterprises to better inherit and develop.