Rakuten AI
: How to use it, features, and the business problems it solves
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What is Rakuten AI?
A free agentic AI assistant provided by Rakuten Group. When you talk to it by chat, voice, or image, specialized agents for Rakuten Ichiba, Rakuten Travel, Rakuten Music, and more search for and suggest products and accommodations, and it can also do AI search, image generation, translation, summarization, and writing. It is available on the web, in its own app, in the Rakuten Ichiba app, and in Rakuten Link, and there is also Rakuten AI for Desktop for HP PCs.
Business problems it solves
About "Rakuten AI"
What is Rakuten AI?
Rakuten AI is an agentic AI assistant provided by Rakuten Group, Inc. When you talk to it by text, voice, or image, it not only answers everyday questions but also helps with tasks across Rakuten Group services, such as finding and suggesting products on Rakuten Ichiba and accommodations on Rakuten Travel. It is free to use.
Rakuten offered a beta version under the name "Rakuten AI Assistant" from November 2024, and launched it in full as "Rakuten AI" on July 30, 2025. At the time of the announcement, it was available in Rakuten Link, a communication app for Rakuten Mobile subscribers, and in a dedicated web app (ai.rakuten.co.jp). Since then, the places where you can use it have expanded: the Rakuten Ichiba smartphone app in January 2026, the standalone "Rakuten AI" app in February 2026 (its App Store release date; also available on Google Play), and "Rakuten AI for Desktop" for HP PCs in July 2026.
Note that in March 2026 Rakuten also released a large language model, "Rakuten AI 3.0", for developers. Although the names are similar, that is an AI model that companies and engineers download and use, and it is separate from the AI assistant introduced on this page.
How to Use
- Choose where to use it On a computer, open ai.rakuten.co.jp in your browser. On a smartphone, install the "Rakuten AI" app or use the icon at the bottom right of the Rakuten Ichiba app's home screen. Rakuten Mobile subscribers can also use it from the Rakuten Link app.
- Agree to the Terms of Use and log in with your Rakuten ID You are first asked to agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. According to the July 2025 announcement, the web app can be used without limits when logged in with a Rakuten ID, and without logging in there is a cap on the number of uses before you are prompted to log in (the announcement notes that usage limits may change).
- Talk to it Ask questions by typing, speaking, or sending images. The AI may ask follow-up questions, and answering from the options brings you closer to the information you are looking for.
- Switch between specialized agents and tools Leave shopping to the Rakuten Ichiba agent and travel to the Rakuten Travel agent. For tasks such as creating images, translating, or summarizing, choose from the handy tools.
Features
01AI tools for everyday use
These are listed as "handy AI tools for everyday use" in the Rakuten AI app description.
- AI search — Research things by choosing between "fast response" and "think deeply" modes
- Image generation — Create images from text you enter
- Translation and document summarization — Translate difficult text or condense long documents
- Writing — Write emails, messages, and more in various styles
- Real-time voice mode — Ask questions and give instructions by voice, as if in conversation
- Quick actions for videos and attachments — Summarize and transcribe videos, and create reports from attached files (October 2026 update)
02Specialized agents for Rakuten services
Agents prepared for each Rakuten Group service. The app description lists Rakuten Ichiba, Travel, and Music, and the Rakuten AI for Desktop announcement also lists Rakuten Mobile, Rakuten PointClub, and Rakuten GORA.
- Rakuten Ichiba — Search for and suggest products when you share your budget, purpose, and how you'll use them
- Rakuten Travel — Search for and suggest accommodations, and help with booking
- Rakuten Music — Search for music and make recommendations
- Rakuten Mobile — Provide information about Rakuten Mobile and answer questions before signing up
- Rakuten PointClub — Help check your Rakuten Points balance and related FAQs
03Agents for everyday life
These are introduced as "AI agents that fit your lifestyle" in the app description.
- English coach — Help with English study and conversation practice
- Cooking partner and fashion stylist — Suggest recipes and outfits
- Health support coach — Help with training plans and building exercise habits
- Travel support and pet advice — Help plan outings and answer questions about caring for pets
- Fortune teller, relationship advisor, anime and manga talk partner, and guidance coach — Offer fortune telling for fun, and advice on relationships, hobbies, and setting goals
Find Rakuten Ichiba products through conversation
The biggest feature of Rakuten AI is that you can search for products on Rakuten Ichiba through conversation. The January 2026 announcement explains that when you open Rakuten AI from the icon at the bottom right of the Rakuten Ichiba app's home screen and share your budget, purpose, and usage scenario by text, voice, or image, it suggests matching items from about 500 million products.
According to the announcement, answering the AI's questions as the conversation progresses clarifies needs you may not have noticed yourself, improving the accuracy of suggestions. Suggestions reflect not only Rakuten Ichiba product information and price comparisons but also web information such as the weather and trends.
Sources: Rakuten adds the agentic AI tool "Rakuten AI" to the Rakuten Ichiba smartphone app (January 5, 2026), App Store (Japan) Rakuten AI (also the source of the app screenshots below)
Just talk to it, and it can even create images
In real-time voice mode, you simply speak without looking at the screen, and the AI answers by voice. You can use it to ask how to cook something or look something up when your hands are full.
With image generation, you describe what you want in words, and the image appears right in the conversation. The App Store app headline says image generation and translation can be used "unlimited".
In the image generation example, when asked to "create a cute panda image!", it creates a square, 3D-style image and explains what kind of image it made.
Rakuten AI for Desktop for PCs
On July 29, 2026, Rakuten, in collaboration with HP Japan, began offering "Rakuten AI for Desktop" for HP PCs. It initially covers HP PCs for businesses in Japan, and Rakuten announced plans to offer it for consumers from October 2026 onward.
Source: Rakuten and HP Japan launch "Rakuten AI for Desktop" for HP PCs (July 29, 2026)
Note that "Rakuten AI for Business", announced by Rakuten Group in November 2023 for corporate customers, is a separate product. This page introduces Rakuten AI for individual use.
Pricing
Rakuten AI is free to use. The July 2025 full-launch announcement stated that it is "available free of charge", and both Rakuten Link and the web app were listed as "(free)". The Rakuten AI app on the App Store (Japan) is also free, with no in-app purchases.
| Where to use it | Price | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Web (ai.rakuten.co.jp) | Free | No limits when logged in with a Rakuten ID. Limited number of uses without logging in (as of the July 2025 announcement) |
| Rakuten AI app (iPhone/Android) | Free | No in-app purchases on the App Store |
| Rakuten Ichiba app | Free | Use it from the icon at the bottom right of the home screen |
| Rakuten Link | Free | App for Rakuten Mobile subscribers |
| Rakuten AI for Desktop | — | Pre-bundled on HP PCs in Japan (starting with business PCs as of July 2026) |
(Based on Rakuten Group press releases and App Store listings checked as of October 23, 2026)
Terms of Use to know before using it
The Rakuten AI Terms of Use (updated July 23, 2026) contain points worth noting compared with other AI assistants.
Rakuten is allowed to use what you enter and what is generated. Users grant Rakuten a royalty-free, non-exclusive license, with no fixed term, to use (including reproduce, publicly transmit, and adapt) the text, images, and audio they enter and the generated outputs, in Japan and abroad.
- Using it in fields requiring specialized knowledge, such as education, real estate, medicine, law, finance, accounting, and tax, or for important decisions is prohibited
- You must not enter information that can identify an individual, such as a person's name or phone number
- The accuracy of answers is not guaranteed, and you need to check the content yourself when using it
- Some features process data only on your device without sending it to Rakuten's servers
It is not suited to handling confidential business information or personal information. It is safest to think of it as a service for everyday research, shopping, and hobby-related questions.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free, and the web version can be used without limits with a Rakuten ID (as of the July 2025 announcement)
- Search for products and accommodations on Rakuten Ichiba, Rakuten Travel, and more through conversation
- Voice and image input, image generation, translation, summarization, and writing all in one app
- A range of agents for everyday questions, such as an English coach, cooking, and fortune telling
- Rakuten says it excels at processing context in Japanese
Cons
- The terms allow Rakuten to use what you enter and generate with no fixed term
- The terms prohibit use in specialized fields such as education, medicine, law, and finance, and for important decisions
- Limited to access from Japan
- On the App Store it is rated 3.8 out of 5 from 60 ratings (checked October 23, 2026)
Reviews and Reputation
The Rakuten AI app on the App Store (Japan) is rated 3.8 out of 5 from 60 ratings (checked October 23, 2026). The app has been updated continuously since its February 2026 release, and the October 2026 update added quick actions for summarizing and transcribing videos and creating reports from attachments. A major difference from other AI assistants is that it is placed where Rakuten users naturally encounter it: the Rakuten Ichiba app, Rakuten Link, and HP PCs.
How It Differs from Other AI Assistants
Rakuten AI is an AI assistant focused on connecting to shopping and booking on Rakuten services. Compared with other AI assistants listed on this site:
| Product | Provider | Strengths | Pricing (as listed on each product page) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rakuten AI | Rakuten Group | Specialized agents for Rakuten Ichiba, Rakuten Travel, and more. Image generation, translation, summarization | Free |
| ChatGPT | OpenAI | General conversation, Deep Research, image generation, data analysis, coding | Free / Go ¥1,400/month / Plus ¥3,000/month / Pro from ¥16,800/month |
| Gemini | Integration with Google services such as Gmail and Google Docs | Free / Google AI Plus ¥725/month / Pro ¥2,900/month / Ultra from ¥14,500/month | |
| Microsoft Copilot | Microsoft | Chat, search, and image generation combined with Windows and Office | Free. Microsoft 365 Premium ¥3,200/month (tax included) |
Other products' pricing reflects what is listed on each product page as of the time of checking. Please check each product page and official website for the latest pricing.
If you often use Rakuten Ichiba or Rakuten Travel and want AI to help you find products or places to stay, Rakuten AI is a good fit. If you want to use it for a wide range of purposes such as business documents and research, compare it with ChatGPT; if you want to combine it with Gmail and Google Docs, Gemini; and if you want to use it with Windows and Office, Microsoft Copilot.
FAQ
Q. Is Rakuten AI free? A. Yes. Rakuten's announcement states it is "available free of charge", and the Rakuten AI app on the App Store has no in-app purchases.
Q. Can I use it without a Rakuten Mobile contract? A. Yes. The Rakuten Link app is for Rakuten Mobile subscribers, but you can use Rakuten AI from the web version (ai.rakuten.co.jp), the Rakuten AI app, and the Rakuten Ichiba app without a Rakuten Mobile contract.
Q. Do I need a Rakuten ID? A. The Terms of Use state that Rakuten membership registration may be required. According to the July 2025 announcement, the web version can be used without limits when logged in with a Rakuten ID, and there is a cap on the number of uses without logging in.
Q. Can I use it for work? A. The Terms of Use prohibit using it in fields requiring specialized knowledge or for important decisions, and entering information that can identify individuals, and they allow Rakuten to use what you enter and generate. It is not suited to work involving confidential information. For businesses, there is a separate product, "Rakuten AI for Business", announced by Rakuten Group in November 2023.
Q. What company operates it? A. Rakuten Group, Inc. It is listed as the provider in the Terms of Use.
The information on this page is based on what was published on Rakuten Group's official websites (ai.rakuten.co.jp and corp.rakuten.co.jp) and the App Store as of October 2026. Please check the official website for the latest specifications and pricing.
