Akita Prefecture demotes employee for conducting AI conference call from love hotel

Akita Prefecture officials have issued an apology after it came to light that an public servant conducted a video conference call about luring AI data centers, from a love hotel — in a bathrobe while smoking!

Now that’s what we call multitasking.

And if this is the AI revolution, count us in!

The manager, Takahiro Ono, claimed he was in his home, but was rumbled when footage from the public conference call leaked online. Those pesky internet sleuths with too much time on their hands were able to track down the exact room of the love hotel that Ono was staying in due to the particular wallpaper they could identify in the background of the video. (In case you are curious, it’s apparently Room 2020 of Dolphin Image.)

Even more embarrassingly for Ono and the prefecture, savvy netizens also spotted a reflection of a woman who was not his wife.

The public press conference was held on August 6, with Ono participating online from the love hotel while puffing on a cigarette. The conference was about the prefecture’s efforts to woe an AI data center.

Ono is in his fifties and works in the Department of Industry and Labor. After receiving a flood of complaints from the public, the prefecture announced that it was suspending Ono for six months and demoting him from director to chief staff officer.

The penalty is officially due to Ono appearing at the press conference in attire and a setting that was deemed inappropriate, from than for seeing his mistress during work time.

Ono has admitted to the allegations. It remains unclear what his wife thinks of his adultery, demotion, or very public humiliation.