Japan

89 Articles

Artificial intelligence

Sony Semiconductor Solutions and Aramco Collaborate to Develop Industrial AI Applications

Sony Semiconductor Solutions and Aramco announced on September 7, 2026, that they had signed a basic cooperation agreement to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence in the industrial sector. The collaboration focuses on integrating Sony’s sensing, vision, and edge AI technologies with Aramco’s data, operational expertise, and infrastructure.

2026-09-08

Artificial intelligence

Polaris.AI Launches a Solution to Employ AI in Product Design and Manufacturing

Polaris.AI announced the launch of a solution that combines engineering drawing data with artificial intelligence to support drawing search, design, review, change management, and the connection between design and manufacturing operations. The solution relies on understanding drawing structures, engineering standards, and process data, while practical applications continue to be verified.

2026-09-08

Technologies

Japan Requests ¥7.79 Trillion for Industrial Budget Covering AI, Robotics and Semiconductors

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry requested an almost record budget for fiscal 2027, with substantial allocations for artificial intelligence, robotics, semiconductors, critical minerals and measures to address the risk of supply shortages.

2026-09-05

Robotics and Automation

Ricoh Develops Physical AI Technology to Teach Robots from Images of Human Actions

Ricoh announced the development of technology based on a Latent Action Model to teach robots actions such as grasping and moving objects from image and video data, without relying entirely on a specific robot architecture. The company tested the technology in a simulation environment built on physical conditions, using AWS services to reduce the cost of data collection and model training.

2026-09-04

Chips and Semiconductors

Kioxia Showcases Flash and CXL Technologies to Ease Memory Pressure in AI Data Centers

During the FMS event, Kioxia showcased technologies based on low-latency flash and CXL-connected memory modules to expand memory capacity in AI data centers, where DRAM has become costly and supply-constrained. The company also presented new generations of XL-FLASH and BiCS FLASH with improvements in capacity and energy efficiency.

2026-09-04

Cybersecurity

The Spread of Open-Weight Models Makes Cyberattacks Easier: Why Should Companies Prepare for Breaches?

A report by Google and an Accenture expert says that artificial intelligence has entered most stages of cyberattacks, while open-weight models are lowering the cost of reconnaissance and vulnerability discovery. Companies should therefore combine breach-impact reduction, patch-debt management, and the use of artificial intelligence to discover their vulnerabilities before attackers do.

2026-09-03

Artificial intelligence

NTT Docomo Business and ExaWizards Launch an AI Agent to Work with Sensitive Data in a Closed Environment

NTT Docomo Business and ExaWizards have begun offering a closed AI agent that enables companies to use important data, such as engineering drawings and technical documents, within their private networks. The service combines large language models with GPU and Kubernetes operation technologies, with deployment options in a private cloud or on the company’s premises.

2026-09-03

Robotics and Automation

Aster Collaborates to Develop Aluminum Motor Production and Unveils the Concept of an “AI-Native Factory”

Japanese company Aster, which specializes in artificial intelligence technologies for manufacturing, announced a collaboration focused on producing motors that use aluminum, alongside a vision for a factory in which physical AI technologies and operational data are integrated across production stages.

2026-09-02

Robotics and Automation

Japan Launches Facility to Train Humanoid Robots for “Physical AI” Tasks

INSOL-HIGH has begun operating the J-HRTI facility to collect training data for humanoid robots, with capacity for up to 40 robots and the recording of operator interactions with a range of industrial tasks. The initiative aims to provide data that will help physical AI models learn to perform work in real-world environments.

2026-09-02

Medical Technologies

AI Glasses Help People Who Have Lost Their Voices Communicate Through Word Prediction and Object Recognition

Rocket Studio has transformed the Japanese syllabary into an interface inside MiRZA smart glasses, adding word suggestion, text-to-speech conversion, and recognition of surrounding objects. A trial involving 25 patients showed that the system reduced message-transfer time from minutes to tens of seconds or just a few seconds, but it still depends on the user's ability to move their head or finger.

2026-09-02

Robotics and Automation

ARUM Begins Developing a Manufacturing Platform Based on “Physical AI” for Cutting Machines

ARUM has announced the joint development of cutting machines equipped with “physical AI” capabilities through the TTMC Type-M and TTMC Type-L platforms and the TTMC Brain system. The project aims to automate the recognition of manufacturing data, process design, NC programming, and robot movement from October 2026 to September 2030.

2026-09-01

Electric Cars

Toyota Plans to Build New Lexus Electric Vehicle in China Before Japan

According to a report carried by Nikkei, Toyota plans to develop and produce a new electric SUV under the Lexus brand at its new Shanghai plant before launching it in Japan. The move reflects the company’s shift toward relying on China to accelerate development and reduce electric-vehicle manufacturing costs.

2026-08-31

Artificial intelligence

Why Might Stepping Away from AI Be a شرط for Using It Effectively?

A study reviewed by ITmedia explains that greater use of AI does not guarantee improved performance, and that the difference is linked to an employee’s ability to gather factual information, make decisions, review model outputs, and connect them to the work context. Researcher Yuji Kobayashi believes that developing these abilities also requires time away from AI for thinking, reading, and engaging with reality.

2026-08-28

Artificial intelligence

The Non-Intuitive Relationship Between Manufacturing Technologies and the “Death of SaaS”: What Does It Mean for Business Systems?

The article examines the “death of SaaS” hypothesis under the influence of AI agents, which may execute business tasks directly instead of employees relying on traditional application interfaces. The hypothesis does not mean that all cloud software will disappear, but rather that the way ERP systems, production management systems, and others are used may change.

2026-08-28

Chips and Semiconductors

Mitsubishi Materials Develops Hafnium Purification Technology as Demand Linked to AI Data Centers Grows

Mitsubishi Materials announced the development of a technology to purify hafnium, a rare metal used in semiconductor and nuclear energy applications, with samples scheduled to become available during 2026 and commercial production targeted for 2028. The company did not disclose the purity level, technology cost, or expected production volume in the available material.

2026-08-28

Artificial intelligence

Hitachi Develops Technology to Orchestrate AI Agents and Optimize Supply Chain Scheduling

Hitachi has announced the development of “AI orchestration” technology to connect AI agents and improve supply chain schedules when changes or disruptions occur. The company plans to begin offering it as part of the HMAX Industry line in 2027, and will showcase the technology at the Hitachi Social Innovation Forum 2026 JAPAN.

2026-08-28

Medical Technologies

Mucosight AI System Analyzes Eye Disease Images in 30 Seconds with NVIDIA Support

A Japanese academic organization has developed the Mucosight AI system to analyze medical images associated with eye diseases and identify suspected cases in about 30 seconds. The model’s development benefited from NVIDIA support and supercomputing resources, with service provision in Japan expected to begin in August 2026.

2026-08-27

Robotics and Automation

AIRoA Expands AI-Driven Robotics Development Through a Database and Foundation Models for Physical AI

Japanese robotics company AIRoA announced the development of a research infrastructure focused on collecting robotics data and training the foundation models needed for physical AI. This is part of a broader Japanese ecosystem comprising research projects and industrial partnerships aimed at accelerating the transition of robots from digital environments to the real world.

2026-08-26