Yahoo Japan Mandates AI Use for All Employees to Double Productivity by 2028
Yahoo Japan is taking a bold step toward transforming its workplace by making generative AI a core part of daily operations. The company has mandated that all 11,000 employees integrate AI tools into their workflows, aiming to double overall productivity by 2028.
The initiative focuses on automating approximately 30% of employees’ daily tasks—primarily routine and time-consuming activities such as research, document drafting, expense management, meeting notes, and competitive analysis. By offloading these tasks to AI, the company hopes to free up employees to concentrate on high-level thinking, problem-solving, and strategic communication.
Yahoo Japan Requires All 11,000 Employees to Use Generative AI to Double Productivity by 2028 Yahoo Japan wants all of its employees to start using generative AI and hopes to increase its productivity by 2028. https://t.co/sxjP9azP2w pic.twitter.com/IexdqVvKv6
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As part of this strategy, Yahoo Japan has already developed and deployed internal AI tools like SeekAI, which assist with tasks such as expense claims, data searches, meeting agenda creation, summarization, and report proofreading.
The company, which also operates the popular messaging app LINE, views this shift not merely as a cost-cutting move, but as a long-term investment in innovation and workforce efficiency.
“By automating repetitive tasks, employees can focus on decision-making and creative problem-solving—areas where human insight is irreplaceable,” the company noted, according to reporting by PC Watch.
However, experts caution against over-reliance on AI as a replacement for human talent. A recent study by Orgvue found that many UK firms that cut staff in favor of AI now regret it, citing challenges with AI’s ability to handle tasks requiring empathy, nuance, or real-world judgment.
Yahoo Japan’s strategy appears more balanced, positioning AI as a collaborative tool rather than a human substitute. This people-first approach aims to enhance workplace productivity without the upheaval of mass job displacement.
If successful, Yahoo Japan’s model could serve as a blueprint for integrating AI into the modern workplace—demonstrating how technology can complement human capability while preserving the value of human-centered work.