Trend Observation
As aging societies intensify, many industries are facing the challenge of “master craftsmen retiring and skills gaps emerging.” AI technologies are increasingly being used to capture and replicate the experience of veteran experts, transforming tacit knowledge—such as “hands-on intuition” and “on-the-spot judgment”—into digital knowledge that can be replicated and scaled.
- Hitachi Case: Through generative AI, Hitachi has developed virtual training systems that recreate scenarios such as railway maintenance and metal processing using 3D and immersive technologies. This allows new employees to rapidly accumulate experience in simulated environments.
- Observations from Taiwan: Cross-industry experts note that AI can enable “ordinary people to become super-performers,” using data and algorithms to compensate for labor shortages while helping craftsmanship and technical skills find a new role in digital transformation.
Key Insights
- Knowledge Preservation: AI can transform decades of accumulated experience from master craftsmen into visualized, actionable training materials.
- Skill Transfer: By simulating failure scenarios and real-time decision-making, new employees can learn “experiential intuition” in a safe environment.
- Cross-Industry Applications: Beyond manufacturing, these solutions can extend to power utilities, construction, and even traditional crafts.
Market Opportunities
- Japanese Market: By 2030, more than 30% of Japan’s population will be aged 65 or older, making AI-powered master mentors a critical solution for addressing workforce gaps.
- Taiwanese Industries: Driven by the dual demand for smart manufacturing and craftsmanship preservation, AI master mentors are expected to become a bridge between industrial upgrading and cultural heritage preservation.
Industry Insights
- Challenges: While AI can simulate experience, preserving human intuition and judgment remains a key challenge.
- Trends: Immersive training combining VR and AR technologies will become more widespread, enabling more efficient remote learning and cross-border technical collaboration.
- Future Outlook: AI master mentors will not only serve as tools for skill transfer, but may also become a new standard for “intelligent craftsmanship,” allowing traditional skills to continue to shine in the digital era.