Hitachi is reinforcing its commitment to GenAI integration by teaming up with AI leader Google Cloud in a multi-year partnership aimed at expanding GenAI's utilization across its enterprise operations.
Central to this collaboration is the establishment of the Hitachi Google Cloud Business Unit, which will focus on developing GenAI solutions leveraging Google's cutting-edge technologies, including the Gemini large language model, Vertex AI platform, and other cloud AI tools. This initiative aims to modernize legacy software systems, enhance customer service operations with AI-powered tools like Google Cloud's Contact Centre AI, and facilitate secure, hybrid deployments of GenAI across on-premises and cloud environments integrated with Hitachi Vantara's data storage platforms.
Additionally, the partnership will see the creation of a Google Cloud Centre of Excellence dedicated to rapidly deploying co-developed AI solutions to Hitachi's customer base across various sectors, such as energy, mobility, manufacturing, and digital services.
Toshiaki Tokunaga, Executive VP at Hitachi, highlighted the potential of this collaboration to enhance productivity and drive innovation. He emphasized the significance of leveraging Google Cloud's AI capabilities, including solutions like Vertex AI and Gemini models, to better serve diverse customer needs.
This partnership builds upon Hitachi's existing initiatives to incorporate GenAI across its operations. In May 2023, Hitachi established a "Generative AI Center" to manage the risks associated with GenAI insights and provide consulting services to clients implementing its solutions. Collaborating with Microsoft Japan, Hitachi announced plans to offer environment building and operation support services combining Azure OpenAI Service and Hitachi's cloud system integration expertise. Furthermore, Hitachi introduced the role of Chief AI Transformation Officers to embed GenAI strategy across its business units and drive productivity gains through AI-enabled process transformation.
As part of the partnership, Hitachi aims to train over 50,000 "GenAI Professionals" on Google's AI solutions and models, aligning its go-to-market approach with Google Cloud to accelerate innovation and revenue growth through GenAI.
Nitesh Banga, CEO of Hitachi's Digital Engineering business, highlighted the strategic alignment between the two companies to support enterprise customers throughout their GenAI adoption journey, from strategic planning to implementation and management.
For Google Cloud, this partnership aligns with its vision of upskilling GenAI capabilities across internal operations and industries to empower business customers. Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian emphasized the collaboration's role in providing enterprises with the technology, expertise, and resources to build, deploy, and manage generative AI capabilities effectively.
