Japan uses AI to help thousands with something very simple: finding what they’ve lost

Losing something in a public place can be frustrating, especially in a country as busy and interconnected as Japan. Now, thanks to a new AI-based platform called Find, the search for lost items has become much more efficient, intelligent, and user-friendly—both for locals and tourists.

A new system to bring order to lost and found chaos

Find is an AI-powered platform already in use at train stations, airports, and other public spaces across Japan. When someone hands in a lost item, the staff takes a photo of it, and the system identifies key traits like color, shape, and distinct features. This information is stored in a searchable database.

Smart search with image recognition and instant messaging

People who’ve lost something can launch a search via popular messaging apps like Line. They enter where they think they lost it, a description, and optionally upload an image. Even if the description is vague, the AI—powered by GPT-4o—returns likely matches based on visual and textual clues.

Impressive results in early rollouts

Rail companies like Keio and Yurikamome have already seen results. For instance, Keio reports that recovery rates tripled, rising from 10% to 30% since adopting Find in mid-2024. This marks a significant improvement for a problem long managed manually with spreadsheets.

A multilingual, tourist-friendly solution

Find supports Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean, making it highly accessible for international visitors. The system’s blend of visual recognition, instant messaging, and machine learning showcases how AI can solve everyday problems in meaningful, practical ways.