In this series, we sit down with Rakuten AI leaders for a deep dive into the stories behind this transformative technology and the inspiring individuals driving Rakuten’s vision of AI for all. Watch this interview and others in the Inside Rakuten AI Series on our YouTube channel. At…

Cristina Constandache, Chief Revenue Officer at Rakuten Viber Today’s customers want fast, one-click solutions when shopping, banking, filling out paperwork – you name it. They want to do it on-the-go and in one place. To meet this growing demand, brands are turning to super apps. The rise of…

It’s golf like you’ve never seen it before. TGL, presented by SoFi, blends cutting-edge technology, fast-paced team competition, and top PGA TOUR players for prime-time television excitement. With six city-based teams battling it out at the state-of-the-art SoFi Center, this isn’t your typical 18-hole format. These are two-hour…

2024 was truly a transformative year in Rakuten’s AI growth journey, marked by groundbreaking advancements across our ecosystem. From the launch of our high-performance Japanese large language models (LLMs) and AI-powered tools like Rakuten Link AI, to expanding partnerships with OpenAI and L’Oréal Japan, we made significant strides…

Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO, Rakuten Group As we step boldly into another new year, I find myself energized by the transformative journey we’ve undertaken at Rakuten. In 2024, industries around the world experienced an unprecedented technological acceleration, amid which we not only achieved significant business milestones, but…

The college football season is nearing its grand finale, and the stakes couldn’t be higher as the final four teams prepare to battle it out for the championship. Alongside the excitement for the first 12-team college football playoff, the bowl game season has brought its own unique flair,…

With the festive season just around the corner, French shoppers are gearing up for Christmas with a renewed sense of optimism and a keen eye for strategic spending. The latest 2024 Christmas Barometer, conducted by IPSOS for Rakuten of 2,500 French people, reveals some significant shifts in consumer…

In the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence, separating hype from practical business value remains a crucial challenge. At Rakuten, that challenge is being met head-on through an innovative partnership with LangChain, a startup that builds AI infrastructure tools to help companies turn powerful language models into practical…

On November 16, 2024, Rakuten Technology Conference returned for its 16th edition, transforming the company’s Tokyo HQ, and eight satellite locations globally, into a hub of innovation and tech exploration. As usual, the engineer-led event brought together a diverse community of tech business leaders, engineers and enthusiasts from…

In December 2024, Vissel Kobe once again etched their name in Japanese soccer history, successfully defending their J.League title with a dominant 3-0 victory over Shonan Bellmare at Noevir Stadium Kobe. This victory not only secured their second-ever J.League championship but also completed a historic domestic double following their…