AI Guidelines for Business Ver1.0
The AI Guidelines for Business Version 1.0 provide unified guiding principles for AI governance in Japan to promote the safe, secure, and responsible use of AI across its entire lifecycle. Issued jointly by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, these non-binding soft-law guidelines integrate previous domestic frameworks and align with international standards such as the Hiroshima AI Process. They outline basic philosophies—human dignity, diversity and inclusion, and sustainability—alongside common guiding principles for developers, providers, and business users based on a risk-based approach.
Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.
Who issued it
Who it governs
This document is for business operators, public institutions, and developers, providers, and users of AI who need guidance on implementing safe, secure, and responsible AI practices.
What the document contains
The document covers unified principles and governance frameworks for AI business actors, detailing foundational philosophies, common guiding principles across ten key areas, and specific actionable measures for AI developers, providers, and business users. It addresses risk management, agile governance implementation, data handling, bias mitigation, security measures, and compliance with international standards for advanced AI systems.
The document does not impose legally binding rule-based regulations, nor does it apply directly to non-business individual users or data providers who do not act as AI business actors.
- The guidelines establish a unified approach to AI governance in Japan by integrating three previous guidelines into a single reference document.
- A risk-based approach is emphasized, requiring measures that are proportionate to the level and probability of risks entailed by AI use.
- Agile governance cycles—incorporating environment and risk analysis, goal setting, system design, operation, and evaluation—are recommended to keep pace with rapid technological evolution.
- The framework delineates specific responsibilities for three primary actors: AI developers, AI providers, and AI business users.
- Special requirements and international principles, such as those from the Hiroshima AI Process, are incorporated for advanced AI systems and generative AI.
· Preface · Part 1 Definitions · Part 2 Society to aim for with AI, and matters each AI business actor works on · Part 3 Matters Related to AI Developers · Part 4 Matters Related to AI Providers · Part 5 Matters Related to AI Business Users
How it scores
Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.
Accountability
4/5Clear responsibility for AI outcomes
When developing, providing, or using an AI system or service, it is important that each AI business actor executes its accountability to stakeholders within reasonable extent for ensuring traceability, conforming to common guiding principles, and the like
Part 2, C. Common Guiding Principles, 7) Accountability
screening score · 2026-10-23
Fairness
4/5Non-discrimination and equitable treatment
During the development, provision, or use of an AI system or service, it is important that each AI business actor makes efforts to eliminate unfair and harmful bias and discrimination against any specific individuals or groups
Part 2, C. Common Guiding Principles, 3) Fairness
screening score · 2026-10-23
Human Dignity
4/5Respect for the inherent worth of persons
Rather than building a society in which effectiveness and convenience are pursued through AI use to the point that humans become excessively dependent on AI and AI is used to control human behaviors, it is necessary to build a society that has respect for human dignity
Part 2, A. Basic philosophies
screening score · 2026-10-23
Human Oversight
4/5Humans remain in control of consequential decisions
To prevent AI from generating unfair results, consider implementing timely human interventions, rather than letting AI make the decisions alone.
Part 2, C. Common Guiding Principles, 3) Fairness (2) Intervention by decisions made by humans
screening score · 2026-10-23
Privacy
4/5Protection of personal data and private life
Observe relevant laws, including the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, and formulate and announce the privacy policy of each AI business actor, to take measures to respect and protect the privacy of stakeholders
Part 2, C. Common Guiding Principles, 4) Privacy protection (1) Protection of privacy across AI systems and services in general
screening score · 2026-10-23
Transparency
4/5Openness about how AI systems work and are used
When developing, providing, or using an AI system or service, based on the social context when the AI system or service is used, it is important that each AI business actor provides stakeholders with information to the reasonable extent necessary and technically possible
Part 2, C. Common Guiding Principles, 6) Transparency
screening score · 2026-10-23
Impact Assessment
4/5Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use
Therefore, it’s important to take a risk-based approach in which we estimate the level of risks ( impact and probability of hazards) that can be entailed by how it is used in the applicable field beforehand, to ensure the degree of measures taken are appropriate to the level of risks.
Preface
screening score · 2026-10-23