AI Mental Support Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Gumi Narui), which develops industrial health services utilizing AI with the mission of "Wellness in daily life through the power of technology," is launching its stress check service "AI Stress Check," specialized for companies with fewer than 50 employees. Concurrently, a "1,000 Company Free Campaign" is being initiated, offering the stress check tool with an administrator for free for the first year, supporting companies with fewer than 50 employees in conducting their first stress check. Furthermore, the company will exhibit its product at the Startup Market of "IVS Kyoto 2026," one of Japan's largest startup conferences, to be held in Kyoto in July 2026, marking the first public opportunity to experience the actual product. ■ Background: In April 2028, companies with fewer than 50 employees will finally be mandated to conduct stress checks. The stress check system, aimed at the "primary prevention" of mental health issues in workers, has been mandatory annually for companies with 50 or more employees since December 2015. Through the revised Industrial Safety and Health Act promulgated on May 14, 2025, it has been decided that companies with fewer than 50 employees, for whom it was previously only a recommended practice, will also be mandated to conduct stress checks. Furthermore, at the Labor Policy Council's Safety and Health Subcommittee meeting on May 18, 2026, the enforcement date was set for "April 1, 2028." However, companies with fewer than 50 employees, which will be mandated to conduct stress checks, are not required to appoint an industrial physician. This makes securing an "administrator" for the stress check, which can only be performed by qualified individuals such as doctors, public health nurses, or certified psychologists, a significant hurdle. Legally, a stress check cannot be conducted without an administrator, making compliance with the mandate a pressing management issue for compa