By Kiyoshi Takenaka

TOKYO (Reuters) – Nearly a quarter of Japanese companies have adopted artificial intelligence (AI) in their operations, while more than 40 percent do not plan to make use of the cutting-edge technology, a Reuters survey showed on Thursday.

The survey, conducted for Reuters by Research, asked a series of questions to 506 companies from July 3 to 12, with about 250 responding on condition of anonymity.

About 24% of respondents said they have already introduced artificial intelligence in their businesses and 35% plan to do so, while the remaining 41% have no such plans, showing varying degrees of adoption of technological innovation in corporate Japan .

Asked about goals in adopting AI in a multiple-choice question, 60% of respondents said it was trying to address labor shortages, while 53% aimed to reduce labor costs and 36% cited speeding up research and development.

In terms of barriers to entry, a manager at a transport company reported ‘concern among employees about the possible reduction in staff numbers’.

Other barriers include a lack of technological expertise, significant capital costs and concern about reliability, the survey found.

The poll also found that 15% of respondents experienced cyberattacks in the past year and 9% had business partners who experienced cyberattacks during the same period.

Asked about damages, 23% of those who themselves suffered cyber attacks or had business partners who were targets said business was temporarily halted, and 4% said they suffered a leak of information.

When it comes to steps to strengthen cybersecurity, 47 percent of respondents said they outsource defense while 38 percent said they had in-house experts.

Victims of cyberattacks in recent months have included high-profile publisher Kadokawa, whose case prompted the government to work to strengthen cybersecurity measures.

The survey also showed that half of companies support changing the law that states husbands and wives must use the same surname. Women take their husbands in more than 9 out of 10 marriages, a practice that opponents said takes away part of women’s identity and burdens them with the masses of paperwork needed to make the switch.

The issue came to the fore again after business lobby Keidanren last month asked the government to allow married couples to keep their surnames.

In the survey, 50% of respondents said they supported such a legislative change compared to 11% who were opposed.

“The current system damages the dignity and freedom of individuals – and especially women -,” wrote a manager at a machinery company. One steel mill employee called the change “a natural demand of the times.”

In contrast, a manager at a non-ferrous metals manufacturer said that allowing separate surnames could “weaken family ties”.

Asked how a change in the law would affect their business, 14% of respondents said it would boost employee morale and 10% said it would help recruitment activity, while 56% said they expected no impact.