Japan is planning to introduce English-speaking artificial intelligence robots in classrooms to help children improve their language skills.

The Japanese education ministry will launch a pilot program in 500 schools in April 2019 to test the initiative with the aim of fully implementing it in two years, public broadcaster NHK reported.

The program also includes study apps and online conversation sessions with native English speakers.

Japan has proposed improving English skills ahead of the surge in tourists expected during the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

According to the EF English Proficiency Index in 2017, Japan is ranked 37th out of a total of 80 countries.