Tokyo politician to develop AI tool to manage political funds and aggregate public opinion

A young Sci-Fi writer politician in Tokyo wants to govern the nation with AI, and has announced he will create a tool to aggregate public opinion, manage political funds, and even shape policy. Takahiro Anno’s vision for “Digital Democracy 2030” is not favored by everyone, however, and falls in line with previous disturbing ideas put forth by the J-gov about leaning into AI rulership.

2024 Tokyo gubernatorial hopeful and self-proclaimed Sci-Fi writer Takahiro Anno thinks AI could help clean up governance in Japan. According to local media, the software engineer (who came in fifth in the 2024 Tokyo election) has announced he will create an open-source tool for aggregating public opinion, managing funds, and shaping policy.

Anno’s controversial vision of ‘Digital Democracy 2030’

Anno explained on January 16 during a speech in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, that his vision for “Digital Democracy 2030” sees artificial intelligence taking a central role in shaping politics, with Nikkei reporting that the tool aims to “manage political funds” and “aggregate public opinion.” Further, it will connect its findings to policy creation.

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On the surface this may seem like a one-off, pie-in-the-sky idea from another random software engineer and science-fiction geek, but Anno actually has big state ties as a current advisor to GovTech Tokyo, an organization dedicated to digital transformation (DX) which is 100% bankrolled by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

Further, back in November of last year, Japan’s Digital Administrative and Financial Reform Council released a document describing how artificial intelligence, drones, and robots can be used in the implementation of a new kind of surveillance state to better govern the nation — ideas right in line with Anno’s proclamations.

Japanese reactions mixed, residents still struggling with immediate fiscal hardships

Social media responses to the Nikkei article on Anno were mixed, as residents of Japan seem to think there are much more important matters to attend to. One user even questioned (translated by Google): “Is there any point in using AI as an intermediary? Another public money business?” Still, other commenters said the idea was “amazing” and expressed interest in getting the AI tool in place.

As Cryptopolitan has previously reported, Japan’s current economic struggles are increasing for everyday individuals, with a flagging JPY, skyrocketing food prices, and a growing elderly population that cannot afford to retire on the state’s poverty-line pensions. As such, it’s really no wonder people are skeptical of a well-funded, 34-year-old Sci-Fi writer’s ideas for how their money should be spent.

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