Against the declining birth rate in Japan, support will be given to mate-finding projects with the help of artificial intelligence from 2021. According to reports in the country's press, Japan, which has one of the lowest birth rates in the world, will apply for the "matching aid" of artificial intelligence. In this context, it will provide financial support to local administrations that have started or run projects that will enable people to find a partner with artificial intelligence from 2021. A total of 2 billion yen ($ 19 million) of subsidies will be provided to local governments that will invest in matchmaking applications that will help citizen matchmaking through artificial intelligence.
Future Predictions on the Population in Japan
Japan's population of 128 million in 2017 is estimated to drop below 53 million by the end of this century. According to the data of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Security of Japan, 864 thousand babies were born in the country in 2019. It is stated that this is the lowest level seen since records began to be kept in 1889. 54 thousand fewer babies were born last year compared to the previous year. Less than one million babies are born each year in the country for four years. The death rate also broke a record in the post-war period. It is stated that 1 million 376 thousand people died last year.
How Does the Matchmaking Algorithm Work?
Since matchmaking algorithms became popular a decade ago, they have only gotten more and more complex. If at first, they matched people based on age and location, now algorithms use everything from sense of humor, likes and dislikes, hobbies, and interests (as Japan promises its matchmaking algorithm will include). But the constant ‘evolution’ of these algorithms is antithetical to what research says about them: the simpler the better. Because after all, love is not a formula. But on online matchmaking sites, it can be a simple volume game.
The crux of algorithms developed by matrimony sites or dating apps is to compare information on the user against hundreds of thousands of other users to find matches. This happens either by matching people’s characteristics — social background, income bracket, age-range, gender — which is a relatively straightforward algorithmic exercise, or by matching how they behave on the website itself. The latter is embodied by dating apps such as Hinge, Tinder, or Bumble, in which the algorithm notes whom a user says yes or no to and then compares the pattern to others who exhibit similar patterns and preferences.
Bibliography
Desai, Rajvi. “Japan Is Investing Billions in AI-Matchmaking for Its Citizens. But Can Algorithms Really Predict Love?” The Swaddle, 17 Dec. 2020, theswaddle.com/japan-is-investing-billions-in-ai-matchmaking-for-its-citizens-but-can-algorithms-really-predict-love/
“Japan Boosts Artificial Intelligence Funding to Help Residents Find Love.” The Japan Times, 7 Dec. 2020, www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/12/07/national/japan-ai-funding-matchmaking/
“Japan to Fund AI Matchmaking to Boost Birth Rate.” BBC News, BBC, 8 Dec. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55226098
“Japan Looks to Boost Flagging Birth Rate by Funding AI Matchmaking.” South China Morning Post, 8 Dec. 2020, www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3112995/japan-looks-boost-flagging-birth-rate-funding-ai-matchmaking
Osborne, Charlie. “Japan to Invest in AI Matchmaking to Boost Plummeting Birth Rates.” ZDNet, ZDNet, 8 Dec. 2020, www.zdnet.com/article/japan-to-invest-in-ai-matchmaking-to-boost-the-countrys-falling-birthrate/
