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. Generative…

One of the marquee sponsorships for any team is their jersey sponsorship. As the most valuable asset for many teams, it is essential to have accurate valuations and advanced data on exposure. We’ve covered NBA jersey patches, NHL jersey and helmet sponsorships, the MLB’s recent surge into the…

“When I started Rakuten over 25 years ago, artificial intelligence was the realm of The Matrix. Today, that reality is closer than ever.” At Rakuten’s annual New Year Conference in Tokyo, Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani delivered this message to over 50,000 Rakuten Ichiba merchants around Japan. One…

At Blinkfire, we’re always evolving to keep up with the platforms that matter most to our customers — and we’re excited to announce that Snapchat is now fully supported in Blinkfire! Whether you’re a team, league, brand, or creator, Snapchat offers unique ways to engage with fans through…

At the IDR User Forum 2024, held on December 13 in Tokyo, Rakuten once again demonstrated its commitment to advancing the future of AI by fostering collaboration between academia and industry. Organized by the National Institute of Informatics (NII), the forum serves as a platform for researchers, students…

The intersection of fashion and sports has never been more vibrant, and nowhere is this more apparent than on social media. As athletes continue to own the spotlight off the field, their personal style is drawing as much attention as their game-day performances. Player arrival posts have become…

Japan’s thriving second-hand market will soon arrive on American shores: This month, Rakuten Rakuma announced that it would be teaming up with eBay to launch full-scale cross-border sales to shoppers worldwide. Rakuma is one of Japan’s biggest consumer-to-consumer marketplace apps, and enjoys a reputation for authenticity and ease…

On March 2, the engines will once again roar at the Chang International Circuit, marking the start of a new MotoGP season. Millions of fans are excited to follow these racers throughout the season. Before the action moves to the track, we analyzed MotoGP’s social and digital ecosystem.…

“There is no AI without humans. But humans with AI can achieve so much more.” Speaking at the most recent Rakuten Technology Conference, Chief AI & Data Officer Ting Cai shared Rakuten’s strategic vision for artificial intelligence and addressed the unprecedented scale of industry investment, which has reached into the…