adoption
the act of starting to use a new system, technology, rule, or method.
In article: “Yet, compared with the US and UK, adoption in many workplaces remains sluggish and cautious.”
採用、導入；常用來描述公司、政府或社會開始使用新科技、新制度或新做法。
Current Events · August 13, 2026
Why Japanese Firms Are Being Slow to Use AI
Today’s Thursday technology lesson uses a BBC News report on why many Japanese companies are adopting artificial intelligence more cautiously than firms in the US and UK.
Level: intermediateTime: 5–10 minutes
Source article
Title: Why Japanese firms are being so slow to use AI
Source: BBC News
Published: August 12, 2026
Original article: BBC News article link
Article Summary
BBC News reports that Japanese companies have strong reasons to use artificial intelligence, including labour shortages, an ageing population, and productivity problems. Even so, workplace AI adoption remains slower and more cautious than in countries such as the US, the UK, and Singapore.
The article says risk aversion, consensus-based decision-making, fear of mistakes, older computer systems, and limited digital skills all help explain the slow pace. Japan’s government is encouraging companies to invest in AI, but experts say many firms still want more proof before allowing AI systems into important operations.
文章摘要
BBC News 報導，日本企業其實很需要人工智慧，因為日本面臨勞動力短缺、人口老化與生產力不足等問題。不過，與美國、英國和新加坡相比，日本職場採用 AI 的速度仍然偏慢，也更加謹慎。
文章指出，風險趨避、重視共識的企業文化、擔心 AI 出錯、老舊電腦系統，以及數位技能不足，都是推動速度不快的原因。日本政府正鼓勵企業投資 AI，但專家表示，許多公司仍希望看到更多證據，才願意把 AI 用在核心業務中。
5 Daily Words
sluggish
moving, developing, or reacting more slowly than expected.
In article: “Yet, compared with the US and UK, adoption in many workplaces remains sluggish and cautious.”
緩慢的、反應遲緩的；可形容經濟、改革、採用速度或工作流程比預期慢。
consensus
general agreement among the members of a group, especially before a decision is made.
In article: “There are organisations where process and consensus culture genuinely slow things down,” he says.
共識、一致意見；在商業和政策語境中，常指做決策前需要多方同意。
reputational
related to the public opinion or trust that people have in a company, person, or institution.
In article: “Haghirian also contrasts this with the more entrepreneurial culture of the US, arguing that Japanese firms are highly sensitive to error, uncertainty and reputational risk.”
與聲譽有關的；例如 reputational risk 指可能損害公司形象、信任或名聲的風險。
autonomously
independently, without needing direct control or step-by-step instructions from someone else.
In article: “But, by contrast with the US, she says AI systems that can autonomously handle multi-step work are still virtually unheard of in Japan.”
自主地、獨立運作地；用來描述系統或工具不需人類逐步指示，也能自己完成任務。