Japanese AI model developed for processing underwater acoustics

NEC Corp has won a contract to start developing an artificial intelligence (AI)-based model for analysing underwater acoustic data as part of a wider Japanese defence programme.

The Tokyo, Japan-headquartered group will invent and train a foundation model over the next two years for a research campaign run by Japan’s Defense Innovation Science and Technology Institute of the country’s Agency for Defense Equipment.

NEC’s aim is to introduce a general-purpose generative AI, similar to large language models, in the field of underwater acoustics processing to facilitate the creation of a digital twin of the oceans and to better understand subsea phenomena.

This could be used for defence purposes, high-precision earthquake prediction, exploration of marine life and resources and environmental monitoring.

NEC said the foundation model would be different from conventional large-scale AI models that require high volumes of labelled data, which is difficult to collect from underwater acoustics.

It will use its proprietary AI technology, including Cotomi core AI, self-supervised learning and large-scale underwater acoustics data for the Research on Underwater Acoustic Foundation Models Using Self-Supervised Learning (Part 1) project.

Once the foundation model is developed, NEC will promote its research and development for dual-use applications in defence and commercial maritime sectors.