Introduction

As cities worldwide explore the potential of AI, Tokyo is also leveraging this technology to enhance public services and streamline government operations. Tokyo is already making active use of AI across a wide range of areas, helping us improve both public services and internal operations. Currently, 94% of our AI initiatives focus on government use, while 6% promote AI utilization among diverse stakeholders. Within government use, 37% target resident services, 45% support resident service-related operations, and 19% enhance internal operations.

For this post, we introduce a use case from resident services—a bold step toward integrating generative AI into education and childcare.

Generative AI in Metropolitan Schools

Challenges

In recent years, as generative AI has become increasingly widespread, fostering the qualities and skills required for the AI era has become an urgent priority, Tokyo has designated “Generative AI Research Schools” to deepen research on the effective use of generative AI, Building on these findings, Tokyo introduced generative AI environments across all metropolitan schools in May 2025.

Initiatives

This initiative covers approximately 160,000 students and teachers, providing a safe and secure environment suitable for educational use. Inputs are never used for AI training, and proactive filtering blocks inappropriate interactions. We also established clear guidelines: AI should be used to enhance thinking skills, gain new perspectives, and deepen learning, rather than simply providing answers.

The dedicated AI service allows schools to create custom menus aligned with specific learning objectives. Instead of providing quick answers, teachers can create activities that encourage students to think, drawing on perspectives presented by AI.  This approach fosters creativity and independent thinking.

Currently, a total of 2,248 menus have been created, and 238 of the most useful menus are shared across all metropolitan schools.  These resources support learning while addressing diverse educational needs.
Telephone Booth in Shinjuku City.
 

“Gyutto Chat” – AI-Powered Childcare Support

Challenges

Many children and families face everyday worries but hesitate to seek help. While specialized consultation services exist, parents often struggle with vague concerns and don’t know where to turn. Traditional home visits provide support, but they cannot fully address the need for quick, casual, and accessible advice. This gap increases the risk of isolation and anxiety among children and caregivers.

Initiatives

To address these challenges, Tokyo launched “Gyutto Chat”, a new service that allows children and parents to casually consult about everyday worries via chat. This service is an anonymous, free chat service where users can share concerns and receive guidance. AI-powered features include recommendations for appropriate experts and chatbot responses tailored to user needs. For younger generations and busy parents who prefer familiar platforms, the service integrates with SNS for convenience.

Safety and reliability are top priorities. Instead of generating unrestricted text, the AI chatbot selects　from pre-approved response cards, eliminating risks of misinformation or inappropriate replies. Additionally, users can seamlessly transition from AI chat to human mentors, ensuring personalized support when needed.

For more information about Tokyo’s AI initiatives, please refer to the link below.

• Tokyo AI Strategy
• Driving Change with AI: Tokyo’s Strategic Approach