Japan is moving swiftly to update its national strategy on artificial intelligence, signaling just how quickly the technological landscape is shifting beneath our feet. Only six months after the initial rollout of its AI Basic Plan, the government has already drafted a significant revision. This new framework places a massive emphasis on international collaboration, urging closer ties with global partners and leading AI developers. The core motivation behind this urgency is clear: as AI technology becomes more sophisticated, the potential for it to be weaponized—whether through cyberattacks or the subtle, pervasive spread of misinformation—has reached a critical threshold that demands…

The digital age is rapidly reshaping our approach to health, transforming the way we perceive everything from chronic pain to the very concept of longevity. In June 2026, JMIR Publications launched a series of “News and Perspectives” stories that illuminate these shifts, grounding high-level scientific research in the lived realities of patients and providers. By bridging the gap between complex digital tools and the humans they are intended to serve, these insights aim to ensure that our medical future is not only technologically advanced but also deeply compassionate, equitable, and evidence-based. For the more than one-quarter of adults worldwide living…