RIKEN AIP's Mihoko Otake wins Women in AI APAC AI for Social Good Award
Mihoko Otake, Team Director of the Cognitive Behavioral Assistive Technology Team at the RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project (AIP), has received the Women in AI APAC Awards 2026 AI for Social Good Award. The award recognizes her research and social implementation activities in cognitive behavioral assistive technology.
- Mihoko Otake, Team Director of RIKEN AIP's Cognitive Behavioral Assistive Technology Team, received the Women in AI APAC Awards 2026 AI for Social Good Award.
- The awards are organized by the non-profit Women in AI (WAI) and recognize women in AI across the Asia-Pacific region.
- Around 200 applications are received each year, and approximately 20 individuals are recognized, according to RIKEN AIP.
- The team develops conversational support and AI-based communication support systems to help prevent cognitive decline and dementia in older adults.
What the award recognizes
According to RIKEN AIP, the award honors Otake's research and social implementation activities in Cognitive Behavioral Assistive Technology. The institute announced the news on October 15, 2026.
The AI for Social Good Award, as described by RIKEN AIP, honors initiatives that use AI to address societal challenges and create positive impact for communities.
About the Women in AI APAC Awards
The Women in AI APAC Awards are organized by the non-profit organization Women in AI (WAI). They recognize women across the Asia-Pacific region who have made outstanding achievements and innovations in artificial intelligence.
RIKEN AIP states that around 200 applications are received every year, and approximately 20 individuals are recognized across the award categories. That makes the selection a narrow one relative to the number of applicants.
The team's work on cognitive reserve
Otake leads the Cognitive Behavioral Assistive Technology Team. According to RIKEN AIP, the team develops technologies that help maintain and enhance cognitive reserve, with the aim of preventing cognitive decline and dementia in older adults.
The institute says the team develops conversational support technologies and AI-based communication support systems. It also evaluates the effects of these systems on human cognition and well-being.
What it means
The award places the team's work on AI-supported communication for older adults within a regional recognition of AI used for social benefit. The source does not give details on specific deployments, results or availability of the team's systems, so the award itself is the main confirmed outcome. It reflects recognition of both the research and its social implementation, as stated by RIKEN AIP.
