TOKYO -- Hitachi and Sony Group will launch a personnel exchange program this year, as the two Japanese electronics companies seek to help their employees adapt to new technology trends such as artificial intelligence and the metaverse.

Each company will accept several young and midcareer employees from the other for three months, starting this month. The employees participating in the exchange will continue to work for their original employer, but spend around three hours a week in their counterpart's offices, outside their normal working hours. "Symbolic and unique positions" will be targeted for the program, a Hitachi official said.