You need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser to access the full functionality and content of this website.
To do so, please follow the instructions.

Rakuten Innovation

The latest insights and news about Rakuten innovation and entrepreneurship.

Mickey Mikitani: The age of agentic AI has arrived

“This year, we’ve renamed our flagship event from Rakuten Optimism to Rakuten AI Optimism, reflecting our belief that AI is fundamentally transforming the world.” Kicking off the sixth iteration of Rakuten’s biggest annual business conference, Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani had a clear message: artificial intelligence is not a trend, but a foundational …

August 7, 2025
Rakuten AI: Our agentic future starts here

At the 2025 Rakuten AI Optimism conference, Rakuten took another bold step into the future with the full-scale launch of Rakuten AI, a new cutting-edge AI agent geared to reshape how users interact with the Rakuten Ecosystem. “We are on a journey of AI innovation,” shared Rakuten Group Chief Data & AI Officer Ting Cai …

August 27, 2025
Mikitani to engineers: Here’s what’s next

“We need to talk about AI. What is going to happen? To business, to you, to the community, to the country, to the world?” At the 17th Rakuten Technology Conference, held on November 15, 2025, Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani challenged an auditorium of engineers to rethink their assumptions around AI. The theme …

December 15, 2025

VIDEO
October 27, 2025

Choose Your Stay, Your Way with New "Rakuten Travel AI Hotel Search"

BLOG
October 23, 2025

How are AI voice agents changing customer service? Rakuten Mobile collaborates with OpenAI to integrate new technology

VIDEO
October 22, 2025

Rakuten Summer Leadership Summit 2025 Looks Beyond Business Landscape

BLOG
October 16, 2025

K-Dramas in the spotlight: Rakuten Viki celebrates third annual K-Drama Day

VIDEO
October 15, 2025

Ehime Hyakkaten Pop-up Store: Rakuten's First OMO Event with Local Government

BLOG
October 15, 2025

Vissel Kobe turns 30: A celebration of legacy, community, and global connections

VIDEO
October 10, 2025

Rakuten's Ad Business Utilizes AI to Identify Future Buyers

VIDEO
October 7, 2025

Rakuten SAIKYO U-NEXT Launch Boosts Rakuten Mobile as "Strongest Choice"

VIDEO
October 2, 2025

First-Ever Rakuten Furusato Nozei Grand Festival Unites 175 Local Governments

VIDEO
October 1, 2025

#Rakuten Kuishimbo Festival 2025 Attracts Foodies through Social Media

VIDEO
September 30, 2025

Rakuten American Express Card Expands Cash Back Benefits Everywhere

BLOG
September 30, 2025

Inside Rakuten AI: Maksim Tkachenko on the path to personalized AI with efficient Japanese LLMs