The Chiba Bank Group Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

The Chiba Bank Group (hereinafter referred to as "the Group") has established its purpose as "To create a local community better suited to bringing each person’s hope to life." In order to achieve this purpose, the Group is committed to the proactive utilization of AI technologies. While AI technology continues to evolve daily, offering increased convenience and opportunities for use, it also presents risks and concerns that could negatively impact society. Recognizing these dynamics, the Group has established the following AI Policy to serve as a guideline for all officers and employees engaged with AI. By adhering to this Policy and ensuring the appropriate use of AI, the Group aims to contribute to the sustainable growth of the community.

Ethical and Legal Use of AI

1. Human-Centric Approach

The Group respects the dignity and autonomy of all individuals, including officers, employees, and customers, and leverages AI to enhance the well-being of diverse communities. In utilizing AI, the Group will take necessary measures to address issues such as misinformation, disinformation, and biased information generated by AI, ensuring that more people can benefit from AI advancements.

2. Commitment to Fairness

The Group recognizes the potential for AI to introduce biases in decision-making and is committed to ensuring fairness so that no individual or group is subjected to unjust discrimination based on specific attributes. Furthermore, the Group will ensure that human judgment is appropriately incorporated at critical stages of AI utilization, rather than relying solely on AI, to prevent outcomes that lack fairness.

3. Compliance with Laws and Protection of Rights

Throughout the lifecycle of AI development, provisioning, and utilization, the Group strictly complies with all relevant laws and regulations. The Group collects data using appropriate methods and ensures that AI usage does not infringe on third-party rights, such as copyrights. The Group remains dedicated to conducting corporate activities with integrity and fairness.

Ensuring Safety and Transparency

4. Protection of Privacy

The Group adheres to its respective companies' privacy policies during the development, provisioning, and utilization of AI systems and services to ensure the protection of personal information. Particular attention is given to preventing the misuse of personal information and protecting privacy through appropriate measures.

5. Safety and Security

The Group identifies and addresses risks associated with the use of AI to ensure safety and security. During the development, provisioning, and utilization of AI systems and services, the Group ensures their reliability and robustness, while maintaining appropriate human oversight to prevent harm to individuals' property or well-being.

6. Transparency and Accountability

The Group ensures the verifiability and traceability of AI-related decisions within a reasonable scope, based on the volume and nature of the data involved. When providing AI systems and services, the Group ensures transparency by disclosing relevant information, such as the fact that AI is being used, its scope of application, and foreseeable risks, in a timely and appropriate manner through communication and dialogue. To ensure the effectiveness of this Policy, the Group implements and operates AI governance, including risk management and internal audits, and conducts sound and appropriate business operations to fulfill its accountability.

Sustainable Value Creation Through AI

7. Creating Sustainable Value with AI

The Group leverages AI to generate benefits for society. By actively advancing the development, provisioning, and utilization of AI, the Group strives to enhance corporate value through customer-oriented value creation and operational efficiency. AI is also utilized to strengthen the safety of banking operations and prevent financial crimes, thereby fulfilling the Group's social responsibility and public mission. Through the use of AI, the Group aims to create new value and contribute to the realization of a sustainable community.

8. Personnel Development

The Group is committed to continuously nurturing talent equipped with AI literacy and ethical understanding, enabling them to use AI appropriately and responsibly. As AI technology evolves, the Group will establish educational and reskilling frameworks to support new ways of working.

9. Ensuring Fair Competition and Promoting Innovation

The Group is dedicated to ensuring a fair competitive environment surrounding AI. Additionally, the Group contributes to the promotion of innovation across society by creating new AI-driven businesses and services, maintaining sustainable economic growth, presenting solutions to social challenges, and providing appropriate information.