Hello there! I'm Kenji, a Product Manager with a computer science engineering background, currently thriving to make the web platform shine at Google on the Chrome team. My mission? To help developers make the web smarter with powerful, easy-to-use AI capabilities.

From TRS-80 Prompts to Practical AI

My fascination with AI goes way back. I still recall playing with ELIZA on our family's first computer, a Radioshack Tandy TRS-80. Even as a kid, I was captivated by the idea of an AI chatbot, but also consistently felt its limitations. While it asked (lots of) questions and appeared to be listening, it never truly helped with a problem, offering introspection but little practical aid.

With today's advancements, I see an incredible opportunity for a new narrative. My hope is to make AI genuinely helpful. For me, the real power of AI isn't in flashy "magic moments", but in its ability to take care of the boring, tedious aspects, or to adapt content and user experiences to individual needs and abilities. Ultimately, I hope that our work will empower users and developers alike with easy ways to make user experiences more efficient and approachable.

Living on the Edge of Awesome Tech

My professional journey has been a fascinating exploration of how technology enhances human experience. I've had the privilege to lead a wide range of projects, including:

• Crafting a path for practical, helpful AI on the web with built-in AI.
• Building Web APIs and optimizations for delightful Navigation UX and critical performance gains.
• Driving critical APIs for Progressive Web Apps.
• Delving into ChromeOS internationalization and accessibility.
• Launching new features for Google Japanese Input and bringing it to Android.
• Exploring cutting-edge R&D at Sharp Electronics, including 3D mobile screens, biosensing hardware, and early eBook services.

The common thread through all these endeavors? My deep love for tackling complex problems, especially when it means diving into entirely new domains. More importantly, it's about finding ways to apply technology to truly delight users and solve their most critical problems or needs.

This is why I'm so passionate about coupling performance with an exceptional user experience. As I see it, making a site load blazing fast isn't enough if the experience remains frustrating. It's the difference between ripping a band-aid slowly versus in one swift moment: either way, it's still painful.

For me, moving metrics is secondary to hearing and reading the personal stories of how our work genuinely made a difference in people's lives.

What's in a name?

My journey to Japan, however, feels less like a calculated sprint and more like a beautifully executed "product roadmap" by my parents. Truly, 'Naming is everything!' My father's deep passion for Japan led my parents to choose a Japanese name for their second son, planting a seed of curiosity that would eventually blossom. That initial spark, nurtured by my childhood days learning Ju-jitsu at a local dojo, pulled me towards an internship for the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (Tohoku) in Sendai.

At first, I felt a wave of anxiety, and a sea of unknowns stretched before me. But I thrive on challenges, and being thrown into that unfamiliar environment was exhilarating. The immediate impact was profound: I vividly felt the frustration of not being able to communicate, which ignited a fierce determination. I made it a point to record and look up frequent words, put myself into challenging conversational scenarios, and even switched my operating system language to Japanese to force myself to adapt. Learning a new language, a new culture, and new culinary experiences became my daily adventure.

This was the perfect place for someone like me: every day offered a fresh challenge, and the people, both at work and outside, met my efforts to learn their world with genuine kindness. Time flew by, and I knew, without a doubt, that I needed to come back. This wasn't just an internship; it was the beginning of a long and exciting journey, filled with many more challenges and learning opportunities that continue to shape who I am today. From spending a year in Japan on a work-holiday visa to immerse myself in Japanese and the culture, to becoming a research student and a graduating PhD at Tohoku University, to joining Sharp Electronics as a software engineer, and eventually Google Japan as a Product Manager.

What's in the Backlog?

This space is where I'll share my my hands-on experience and learnings whether it's by putting myself in the developer's hoodie through various tinkering projects, or tidbits from friends, partners and colleagues. You'll find:

• Thoughts on tech trends
• Explorations of technical and UX patterns
• Product management reflections
• Occasional updates on my hobbies of the moment.

So whether you're here for Web AI posts, or just to see how a Frenchman in Tokyo navigates the world of tech and creativity, I'm glad you're here. Let's build and learn together!