Artificial intelligenceShift to boost productivity up to 50%, but risks shedding engineering jobsAI will play a growing role at Japan's top information technology companies. (Nikkei montage/Source images by Nikkei)KOTARO MATSUDAAugust 14, 2026 02:00 JSTTOKYO -- Japan's major IT systems companies are planning a transition from using people for development to a process led by artificial intelligence, a move that will boost efficiency but reduce the need for human talent.Read NextTechnologyJapan helps universities commercialize new tech through global partnershipsBusiness trendsJapan Inc.'s quarterly profit jumps 70% on weak yen and AI spendingCompaniesBuffett-backed Japan trading houses soar, but will it last in AI era?Artificial intelligenceAI agents are the only employees at Japan tech group NEC's new departmentFinanceJapan pension whale GPIF reaps record $150bn in mainly AI-driven gainsTradeAI boom softens blow from China's July trade slowdownArtificial intelligenceAmundi says AI remains a long-term bet despite sell-offLatest on Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligenceDeepSeek releases official V4 Pro model with sharply higher user pricesArtificial intelligenceAI startup Manus to go independent again as deal with Meta unwindsArtificial intelligenceMoonshot AI's CEO turned down Apple and built Chinese rival to Anthropic