GMO Internet Group Inc. (Group Representative: Masatoshi Kumagai) decided at its board of directors meeting held on July 14, 2026 (Tuesday) to establish the 'Group AI Promotion Department' and appoint the department head.

The company will establish the 'Group AI Promotion Department' as a specialized organization to concentrate resources across the group and strongly promote the implementation and equipment of business AI agents, effective July 14, 2026 (Tuesday). At the same time, Hirofumi Yamashita, Group Vice President, will take on the new role of 'Group AI Transformation Officer' and serve as the head of the department.

GMO Internet Group aims to be the 'No.1 corporate group creating the future with AI & Robotics.' To promote this initiative, Masatoshi Kumagai, the Group Representative, assumed the position of 'Group AI Transformation Chief Responsible Officer (Group CAIO)' effective July 13, 2026 (Monday). Along with this, Yamashita will take on the role of 'Group AI Transformation Officer' and, while assisting Kumagai, will further accelerate AI transformation across the group.

【Establishment of the 'Group AI Promotion Department'】

The 'Group AI Promotion Department' will be established as a specialized organization to strongly promote the implementation and equipment of business AI agents across GMO Internet Group, effective July 14, 2026 (Tuesday).

Personnel

Name

Hirofumi Yamashita (Yamashita Hirofumi)

Current Position

GMO Internet Group Inc.

Group Vice President and Executive Officer

Head of Group System Division

GMO Internet Inc. Vice President and Executive Officer

New Position

GMO Internet Group Inc.

Group Vice President and Executive Officer

Head of Group System Division

Head of Group AI Promotion Department

Group AI Transformation Officer

GMO Internet Inc. Vice President and Executive Officer

【Background of the Establishment of the 'Group AI Promotion Department'】

Based on the 'AI Obstacle Factors' survey conducted across the group in April 2026, we have been progressing with the project and measures. From July 2026 onwards, as the environment for using AI is gradually being prepared and the phase of implementing and equipping business AI agents becomes important, we will establish the 'Group AI Promotion Department' as a specialized organization to strongly promote this. The 'Group AI Promotion Department' will consist of the following four divisions.

AI Platform Division

Development of AI connections (API/MCP/CLI), construction and management of business AI agent infrastructure and business AI knowledge infrastructure, and preparation of numerical data and documents.

AI Agent Business Support Division

Inventory and process improvement of business, design, development, and enlightenment of business AI agents, introduction and migration support of core systems, and token management.

AI Operation Division

Maintenance and management of AI-based core systems, control of AI-related costs (BS/PL/CF), and management of licenses, contracts, and costs.

AI Governance Division

Creation of AI-related regulations, audit and compliance confirmation of AI decision-making, and management of AI-related incidents. Will also serve as the Group Security Measures Division.

【About GMO Internet Group】

GMO Internet Group provides services that form the foundation of business, such as domains, server rentals, and settlements, as its mainstay internet infrastructure business, and operates a comprehensive internet group that includes internet security, internet advertising, internet media business, internet financial business, and cryptocurrency business. Under the banner of being the 'No.1 corporate group creating the future with AI & Robotics,' the group is promoting the use of generative AI by all partners to achieve ① saving time and cost, ② improving the quality of existing services, and ③ providing new services to the AI industry. (Note 1)

So far, we have been promoting initiatives such as the AI risk management strategy 'Tora no Ana,' but in May 2025, we established the 'GMO AI Boost Support Fund,' investing 10 billion yen annually (an average of 10,000 yen per person per month) to promote AI utilization. Furthermore, in response to the rapid evolution of Claude, we made an additional investment of 11.5 billion yen as 'GMO AI Boost Support Fund for Claude' (Note 2) (February 2026).

Since January 2026, we have designated 'GMO AI Day' as a day for all partners to concentrate and seriously engage in AI (Note 3). Through these initiatives, GMO Internet Group aims to become the 'most hyper-automated corporate group in Japan' by fully utilizing AI agents by November 30, 2027 (Note 4).

(Note 1) Reference URL: Initiatives toward realizing the 'No.1 corporate group creating the future with AI & Robotics' https://group.gmo/ai-history/

(Note 2) Reference URL: https://group.gmo/news/article/9909/

(Note 3) Reference URL: https://group.gmo/news/article/9887/

(Note 4) Reference URL: https://group.gmo/news/article/9771/

Above

【GMO Internet Group Inc.】 (URL: https://group.gmo/)

Company Name: GMO Internet Group Inc. (Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market, Stock Code: 9449)

Location: 26-1 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Cerulean Tower

Representative: Masatoshi Kumagai, Representative Director and Group Representative

Business Content: ■ Holding Company (Group Management Functions)

Group Business Content

Internet Infrastructure Business

Internet Security Business

Internet Advertising and Media Business

Internet Financial Business

Cryptocurrency Business

Capital: 5 billion yen

Copyright (C) 2026 GMO Internet Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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