TL;DR:
- NEC Corporation has developed generative AI customized for each customer to create new value in response to business changes caused by new technologies.
- NEC Generative AI Service provides licenses for proprietary large language models, dedicated hardware, software, and consulting services.
- The NEC Generative AI Advanced Customer Program collaborates with customers to support model creation and software development.
- NEC’s internal use of generative AI has resulted in significant efficiency gains and reduced man-hours.
- NEC offers secure and low-latency services, including on-premises environments, in partnership with Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service.
- The NEC Generative AI Service Menu provides comprehensive support for customers, including consulting and hypothesis testing.
- NEC’s unique LLM features include high Japanese proficiency and lightweight architecture.
- The NEC Generative AI Hub is dedicated to promoting business transformation for customers through a team of experts.
- NEC aims to achieve sales of 50 billion yen over the next three years from generative AI-related businesses.
Main AI News:
NEC Corporation, a leading technology company, has unveiled its cutting-edge generative artificial intelligence (AI) designed to cater to the unique needs of businesses. With the advent of new technologies bringing about significant changes in the corporate landscape, NEC’s customizable generative AI is set to create unparalleled value for companies. Commencing in Japan this month, the innovative “NEC Generative AI Service” will provide licenses for proprietary large language models (LLM), specialized hardware and software, consulting services, and more. The company plans to expand its offerings to new markets beyond FY2024.
In a groundbreaking initiative, NEC has joined forces with approximately 10 companies and universities to launch the “NEC Generative AI Advanced Customer Program” in July. This program aims to collaborate closely with customers to develop tailored models and software solutions, fostering the effective utilization of LLM in their organizations.
To spearhead the business transformation of its clients, NEC has established the dedicated organization “NEC Generative AI Hub.” Comprising seasoned researchers, prompt engineers, consultants, digital trust specialists, and other professionals, the hub will provide comprehensive support to drive customers’ success. With a target of achieving sales of 50 billion yen (approximately $346 million USD) in the next three years from generative AI-related businesses, NEC is poised to lead the industry.
The field of generative AI has garnered considerable attention as companies and local governments explore opportunities for business transformation through the utilization of advanced language models like ChatGPT. Notably, ChatGPT has already surpassed 100 million users within just two months of its launch in November 2022.
However, the implementation of generative AI comes with its own set of challenges, including security concerns, information leakage, vulnerability, accuracy, and ensuring continuous system use. NEC recognizes the importance of addressing these issues and acknowledges that corporate applications must extend beyond translation and summarization. It is vital to leverage generative AI for more critical purposes, such as modeling the wealth of knowledge accumulated within an organization and developing systems to promote its effective utilization across the company.
NEC’s own journey with generative AI began in May of this year when it introduced the technology for internal business use. Within a mere two weeks, the company established a secure environment and system that empowers employees to leverage generative AI safely. The system seamlessly integrates with internal communication tools, including chat platforms and web conferencing solutions. Today, approximately 20,000 NEC employees actively utilize the system, amounting to roughly 10,000 interactions per day.
The results have been remarkable. The system has brought about an impressive 80% reduction in the man-hours required for creating source code for internal system development. Furthermore, the time needed for document creation has decreased by 50%, and the average duration for meeting minutes has been slashed from 30 minutes to a mere 5 minutes.
NEC is committed to continually enhancing the efficiency of document proofreading and other routine tasks across the entire organization. Drawing on the knowledge gained from its in-house utilization of LLM-related services, the company aims to leverage the system’s capabilities in specialized areas such as software development. This wealth of experience positions NEC perfectly to provide its revolutionary generative AI to businesses, driving the creation of new corporate value.
Distinctive Features of NEC’s Large Language Models (LLM)
- Unmatched Japanese proficiency: Demonstrates exceptional performance in terms of knowledge and reading comprehension necessary for seamless business operations.
- Lightweight architecture: Compact model size allows it to run efficiently on standard GPU servers.
NEC Generative AI Service: Unparalleled Support for Customers
NEC is poised to deliver comprehensive support to customers through its all-encompassing “NEC Generative AI Service Menu.” Leveraging its extensive know-how and successful initiatives, NEC will offer a range of services, including consulting, hypothesis testing, and more. These services aim to facilitate rapid and effective business transformation for customers.
To streamline the integration of LLM into customer operations, NEC will provide the powerful “NEC Generative AI Framework” software.
The collaboration between NEC and Microsoft will bring together the best of both companies. Customers will benefit from the “Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service” and NEC’s own LLM, which will be tailored to meet specific requirements. As a testament to NEC’s commitment to security, the company also offers secure on-premises environments alongside its cloud services, ensuring the protection of confidential information.
These services will be delivered securely and with low latency, leveraging the state-of-the-art NEC Inzai Data Center. This data center, equipped with a connection point to “Microsoft Azure ExpressRoute,” offers an ideal platform for delivering NEC’s proprietary LLM, NEC Generative AI Framework, and the hardware-based “NEC Generative AI Appliance Server” for on-premises use. This comprehensive solution guarantees a secure environment for LLM operations.
NEC Generative AI Advanced Customer Program: Unlocking Maximum Business Value
The NEC Generative AI Advanced Customer Program offers extensive support to unlock the full potential of generative AI, enabling businesses to create significant corporate value. The program encompasses a range of activities, including the development of company-specific language models, the creation of business applications, environmental enhancements, and human resource development. It also fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing among participating companies.
Key components of the program include:
- Consultant-led workshops that facilitate the development of LLM utilization strategies, scenario planning, use case identification, and internal usage guidelines.
- Demonstration experiments conducted in a private environment, leveraging NEC’s proprietary LLM and building customized tuning models that utilize NEC LLM to analyze company data.
- Advanced trials of NEC’s cutting-edge services, enabling high-level human resource development in the AI domain. This includes training sessions and hands-on exercises to enhance LLM utilization.
- Exploration of new business possibilities through cross-industry idea exchange.
Microsoft, a global strategic partner, warmly welcomes NEC’s generative AI service. Miki Tsusaka, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft Corporation and President of Microsoft Japan, Ltd., recognizes generative AI as a historic and transformative turning point in technology, akin to the advent of the Internet or the Industrial Revolution. Acknowledging NEC’s pioneering efforts in the field, she highlights the strategic collaboration between NEC and Microsoft, combining Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service’s secure data handling capabilities with NEC’s diverse technological assets, including the advanced NEC Inzai Data Center. Through this partnership, both companies are committed to accelerating customers’ digital transformation and driving innovation in work styles.
Toshifumi Yoshizaki, Corporate Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer (CDO) at NEC Corporation, affirms the company’s dedication to providing a secure and reliable generative AI environment. By leveraging NEC’s extensive AI expertise and Microsoft Azure OpenAI, NEC aims to create a powerful synergy that empowers businesses to achieve their goals. Through the new partnership program, NEC seeks to harness the collective wisdom of customers and academia, aiming for a significant leap forward in productivity.
Conclusion:
NEC’s development of customizable generative AI and its comprehensive suite of services positions the company as a frontrunner in the market. The ability to tailor AI solutions to individual customer needs and the proven efficiency gains from internal usage demonstrates NEC’s commitment to driving business transformation. The strategic partnership with Microsoft, along with secure and low-latency services, ensures NEC can deliver advanced AI capabilities while maintaining data protection. With its strong emphasis on customization, efficiency, and security, NEC’s generative AI solutions are poised to make a significant impact on the market, enabling businesses to unlock new value and accelerate their digital transformation initiatives.
