TOKYO (AP) 鈥� Japanese communications company Fujitsu is leading a major push in artificial intelligence using Nvidia鈥檚 technology, bringing together what it said was the best in Japan鈥檚 manufacturing prowess in robotics with .
The technology area known as 鈥減hysical AI鈥� refers to smart, futuristic robots that can think on their own, not just follow programmed directions, to work safely alongside people in factories, homes and hospitals.
The initiative was announced in Tokyo on Thursday by Chief Executive Jensen Huang and Fujitsu Chief Executive Takahito Tokita, along with the CEOs of Japan鈥檚 top makers of industrial robots, Fanuc Corp., Yaskawa Electric Corp. and Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
The latest announcement comes on top of last year.
The executives expressed hopes that . Japan is among the most rapidly aging societies in the developed world and the smart robots could help take care of the elderly living alone, they said.
Huang said physical AI was a good fit for Japan because of the country’s reputation for manufacturing quality because robots that move independently could potentially be dangerous.
鈥淛apan鈥檚 excellence is a philosophy, a way of life. 鈥楳ade in Japan鈥� means the highest quality, the highest precision. Japan sets the standard for the state-of-the-art in modern manufacturing,鈥� he said.
Huang listed Japan鈥檚 prized concepts in fine manufacturing such as 鈥渒aizen,鈥� which means 鈥渃ontinuous improvement.鈥�
The companies did not give a specific time frame for the arrival of such robots in daily life. They stressed efforts were underway with what they called the first phase of the collaboration coming later this year.
There has been no decision on setting up a joint venture, although that could come later, they said.
Japan has acknowledged it has fallen behind some nations, including China and the U.S., in AI, and has been eager to play catch-up.
The government of Prime Minister recently announced a plan to drum up more than 370 trillion yen ($2.3 trillion) in public and private investment in various technology fields by 2040, including physical AI, semiconductors and data centers.
Silicon Valley-based Nvidia, which offers an open-source technology, has been aggressive in forging various ties in Japan, including with leading banks, automaker Toyota Motor Corp., video game maker Sega and national research institute Riken.
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Yuri Kageyama is on Threads:
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