TOKYO — Cognition AI launched an Applied AI Engineering program in Malaysia as part of its expansion into the Asia-Pacific region, which included opening a Tokyo office in April 2026. The expansion followed a funding round in late May 2026 in which the company raised more than $1 billion at a $26 billion valuation.

Founded in 2023, Cognition AI saw its valuation more than double from its September 2025 funding round. Its annualized run rate reached $492 million at the time of the May 2026 raise, up from $37 million one year prior. The company developed Devin, an AI coding tool that codes, debugs, and deploys code autonomously.

In a podcast interview, Russell Kaplan, President of Cognition AI, said, "Japan was our first or second most popular country in terms of user engagement overall." Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry estimated in 2023 that the country would face a shortage of 789,000 software engineers by 2030. Almost 30% of Japan's residents are over the age of 65. Kaplan said, "The country is running on aging infrastructure with a declining workforce," and added, "The needs are real, especially in critical infrastructure and government."

Cognition AI plans to establish Singapore as its Asia-Pacific headquarters later in 2026. Kuala Lumpur has become a regional software engineering hub. Kaplan stated that demand for compute at Cognition AI is doubling roughly every seven weeks. He is considering South Korea and Australia for further expansion in the Asia-Pacific region. Access to the Mythos model for foreign users was halted in mid-June 2026 after the U.S. barred all foreigners from using the model.

Why It Matters

Cognition AI's expansion into the Asia-Pacific region includes a new program in Malaysia and an office in Tokyo. The company's increased valuation and funding reflect investor activity in its AI coding technology. The focus on Japan aligns with the country's demographic challenges, including a declining working-age population and a projected shortage of software engineers.

The company plans to establish a regional headquarters in Singapore and is considering further expansion into South Korea and Australia. This expansion occurs as the U.S. has restricted foreign access to certain AI models.