Deus Ex Machina
Birth rates in Japan have been dropping and the number of marriages has fallen by a quarter over the past two decades, according to government data.
This calls for drastic action, the government believes. As a result, it plans to deploy artificial intelligence in the hopes of promoting love and marriage, and hopefully children, CNET reported.
Currently, more than half of Japan’s prefectures have some kind of government-run matchmaking service for singles to choose their potential mate based on different criteria, including age, income and educational level.
However, Japanese officials believe the current dating services aren’t advanced enough – hence the AI system.
The new system would be more personality-driven and will focus on a user’s personal values and beliefs on various topics: This would include information about hobbies and interests – for example, if a person likes Pokemon in case they want a Pokemon-themed wedding.
The government plans to start the project in spring and to allocate about $19.05 million for the new AI-enabled dating service.
Policymakers hope AI can help solve Japan’s shrinking workforce even as anthropologist Sachiko Horiguchi told the BBC it won’t likely help, citing a recent report which suggested that young adults from lower-income levels have lost interest in romantic relationships.
“If they’re not interested in dating, the matchmaking would likely be ineffective,” she said.
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