Bank of Japan to host AI for economic analysis summit

Tokyo hosts global central bank AI summit

The Bank of Japan (BoJ) is hosting the eighth Conference on Nontraditional Data, Machine Learning, and Natural Language Processing in Macroeconomics (ECONDAT 2026 Fall Meeting) in Tokyo on October 5-6, 2026.

This gathering brings together global central banks and research institutions to advance discussion and disseminate research in data science, non-traditional data, and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques within macroeconomics and financial economics.

The BoJ is co-organising the event with several international bodies, including Banca d'Italia, the Federal Reserve Board, Sveriges Riksbank, the Bank of Canada, and the Central Bank Research Association (CEBRA). Shinichi Uchida, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Japan, will deliver the opening remarks for the conference.

Exploring AI's role in sentiment and forecasting

The conference agenda focuses on the application of advanced AI, including large language models (LLMs) and deep learning, to derive macroeconomic insights. Sessions are scheduled to cover topics such as measuring sentiments and expectations through LLMs, parsing macroeconomic sentiment, and analysing firm-level input price changes.

Researchers will present findings on how narratives extracted from financial reports, using LLMs, affect firm behaviour.

Melissa Dell of Harvard University is slated to deliver a keynote speech, while participants from institutions like the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), and the Bank of Japan itself will present their research on these analytical approaches.

Granular data and AI's economic implications

Beyond sentiment analysis, the ECONDAT 2026 meeting will delve into new evidence derived from large and granular datasets. Presentations will explore whether 'vibes' can predict recessions using big-data forecasting frameworks and methods for gauging hourly economic activity at a local level. Discussions also extend to the broader economic implications of AI adoption.

Researchers from the Federal Reserve Board, Seikei University, and the Bank of Canada are scheduled to present on topics such as the herding behaviour of AI trading agents and their financial stability implications, AI adoption and labour market responses, and the new trade-offs artificial intelligence creates for central banks in their policy formulation.

Asian central banks at the forefront of AI research

The Bank of Japan's role as host, combined with significant participation from Asian institutions and researchers, underscores the region's engagement in cutting-edge AI research for economic analysis.

Presenters from the Bank of Japan, Bank for International Settlements (BIS), Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul National University, KDI School of Public Policy and Management, Seikei University, and the University of Tokyo are contributing to the conference.

This engagement highlights how Asian central banks and academic bodies are actively exploring and integrating advanced data science and AI tools to enhance their understanding of macroeconomic dynamics and inform policy decisions, positioning the region as a key contributor to this evolving field.

Implications for macroeconomic policy and financial stability

The insights shared at the ECONDAT 2026 conference will inform how central banks globally, including those across Asia, integrate advanced AI tools into their analytical frameworks. Decision-makers should note that enhanced capabilities in real-time data processing and sentiment analysis could lead to more nuanced and timely policy responses.

The discussions on AI trading agents and their potential impact on financial stability are particularly relevant for regulators monitoring market dynamics.

Policymakers and investors should closely follow the official proceedings and any subsequent research papers published by participating central banks, as these will indicate the specific AI applications being considered for future macroeconomic forecasting and policy adjustments in 2027 and beyond.