TOKYO, May 13, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UBIC, Inc. (Nasdaq:UBIC) (TSE:2158), a leading provider of international litigation support and big-data analysis services, and LITALICO Inc. (TSE:6187), a company engaged in the business of providing employment support for people with disabilities and disorders and expanding children’s educational opportunities under the vision of “creating a society without disabilities,” announced today that they have formed a business alliance aimed at utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to combat depression and prevent adverse consequences of depression.
As the first step of the alliance, the two companies have created a system to detect early signs of depression and even suicidal behavior in people suffering from mental disorders. This system has been introduced in LITALICO’s Wingle service, which supports people afflicted with these disorders in obtaining jobs. The system uses UBIC’s KIBIT AI engine to analyze text data contained in the Wingle service database.
In advance of the introduction of new Japanese regulations that will mandate employment of people with mental disorders starting in 2018, Japanese companies have already begun to increase their hiring of people suffering from depression and other mental illnesses. UBIC and LITALICO expect this trend to continue in the future. There is high correlation between certain mental disorders and suicidal behavior as reflected by a survey which indicated that 75% of suicide cases involved persons suffering from certain mental disorders. Therefore, preventing depression and suicidal behavior from taking hold within people with mental disorders has become a social challenge.
UBIC and LITALICO will also cooperate in developing and providing services that increase individual happiness through the introduction of tailored experiences which cater to individuals’ characteristics and personalities.
About UBIC, Inc.
UBIC, Inc. (Nasdaq:UBIC) (TSE:2158) supports the analysis of big data based on behavior informatics by utilizing its technology, "KIBIT". UBIC's KIBIT technology is driven by UBIC AI based on knowledge acquired through its litigation support services. The KIBIT incorporates experts' tacit knowledge, including their experiences and intuitions, and utilizes that knowledge for big data analysis. UBIC continues to expand its business operations by applying KIBIT to new fields such as healthcare and marketing. UBIC was founded in 2003 as a provider of e-discovery and international litigation support services. These services include the preservation, investigation and analysis of evidence materials contained in electronic data, and computer forensic investigation. UBIC provides e-discovery and litigation support by making full use of its data analysis platform, "Lit i View®", and its Predictive Coding technology adapted to Asian languages.
For more information about UBIC, contact usinfo@ubicna.com or visit http://www.ubic-global.com.
About LITALICO
Since its founding in December 2005, LITALICO has focused its attention on the field of employment of people with disabilities and disorders as a social challenge for Japan, engaging in the business of supporting such people in obtaining jobs in 53 locations nationwide, the largest number for a single company in this field. This business, which started with support for companies employing people with disabilities and disorders, has now expanded into such areas as vocational training for people with disabilities and disorders, services for families of such people and educational services. LITALICO provides the Leaf pre-school and cram school classes in 63 locations in the Tokyo area and the Kansai region and the Qremo class for IT and manufacturing in five locations in the Tokyo area (as of May 2016). LITALICO was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Mothers market in March 2016. For further details, please visit the company’s website at http://litalico.co.jp/.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the amount of data that UBIC expects to manage this year and the potential uses for UBIC's new service in intellectual property-related litigation, contain forward-looking statements. UBIC may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about UBIC's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: UBIC's goals and strategies; UBIC's expansion plans; the expected growth of the data center services market; expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, UBIC's services; UBIC's expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with customers; UBIC's plans to invest in research and development to enhance its solution and service offerings; and general economic and business conditions in the regions where UBIC provides solutions and services. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in UBIC's reports filed with, or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. UBIC does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and UBIC undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.