The Matsuo-Iwasawa Laboratory at the University of Tokyo (hereafter referred to as Matsuo Lab) has translated its domestic data science course, the “Global Consumer Intelligence” Endowed Course (GCI), into English and launched it globally under the name “GCI World”.
Launched for the first time last fiscal year, the course generated significant interest and expansion, attracting over 7,000 applicants from 436 universities across 33 countries, and holding its inaugural local lecture at the Hanoi University of Science and Technology in Vietnam. For this second cohort, approximately 25,000 students from around 100 countries—primarily ODA (Official Development Assistance) eligible nations—have commenced their studies.
On May 19, 2026, a local lecture and a 1-day hackathon were held on campus at the University of the Philippines Diliman (Manila, Philippines), followed by another event at BRAC University (Dhaka, Bangladesh) on July 8, 2026, with a large number of students participating from these member universities.
Background
Driven by its vision to “Create Intelligence”, Matsuo Lab offers more than 30 courses annually based on insights gained from foundational AI research. These courses welcome a wide range of students, from junior high schoolers to graduate students, regardless of whether they major in humanities or sciences. The lab saw 27,000 annual students in FY2024, which surged to over 70,000 in FY2025. For FY2026, the lab aims to reach 200,000 annual students. The cumulative number of course participants has surpassed XX people, providing AI education opportunities to students all across Japan.
Building upon these domestic achievements, Matsuo Lab has been expanding its lectures globally in recent years. At the recent TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on African Development), Prime Minister Ishiba attracted significant attention by announcing a policy to develop 30,000 AI talents in Africa in collaboration with Matsuo Lab.
As an extension of these efforts, “GCI World” provides learning opportunities to students worldwide, particularly in Africa and the ASEAN region, in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). By scaling this initiative, the lab aims to nurture global AI talent, foster international communities, and ultimately contribute to the development of Japanese industries.
Program Overview
“GCI World 2026 April” commenced on April 8. On May 19, 2026, a local lecture and a 1-day hackathon were conducted at the University of the Philippines Diliman (Manila, Philippines), and BRAC University (Dhaka, Bangladesh) on July 8, 2026, with many students participating.
The full curriculum details of the course are as follows:
Applications Now Open for Upcoming Courses
Matsuo Lab is currently accepting applications for GCI World 2026 September (an English program for international students) launching on September 17, 2026, as well as GCI 2026 Winter (a Japanese program for domestic students). Please check the details below.
GCI World 2026 September (English program for international students)
- Language: English
- Start Date: September 17, 2026
- Details & Application: https://x.gd/9JP0l
GCI 2026 Winter (Japanese program for domestic students)
- Language: Japanese
- Start Date: October 6, 2026
- Details & Application: https://x.gd/bb8Aj
About Matsuo-Iwasawa Laboratory
Guided by the vision to “Create Intelligence”, the Matsuo-Iwasawa Laboratory at the University of Tokyo drives advanced research in deep learning. Its focus areas include world models, robotics, large language models (LLMs), and Brain-AI integration. Additionally, Matsuo Lab is dedicated to returning the fruits of its foundational research to society through lectures, joint research with corporations, and support for student entrepreneurs.
Reference Links
- アフリカでAI人材3万人育成 政府と東大松尾研、製造業・農業DX支援（日経新聞）
- TICADが横浜で開幕 石破首相 AI分野で3万人育成方針を表明（NHK）
- 東京大学松尾・岩澤研究室、提供するAI講座が累計受講者数75,000人を突破
- 東京大学 松尾・岩澤研究室、全世界で受講可能なAI教育プログラム「GCI Global」を開講
Contact Information
- Public Relations: pr@weblab.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp
