Japan backs AI robots plan to address worker shortages

Japan has formally turned its AI robots idea into a national project, with a goal of deploying 10 million AIpowered robots across 18 industries by 2040. The plan includes public funding of up to one trillion yen over five years, with early work already under way. The government’s industry ministry, METI, and innovation agency, NEDO, have commissioned Noetra and AIST to build a physical AI model for robots. The system is meant to combine language, image, video and sensor data so machines can better understand their surroundings and act in real settings. The effort is tied to Japan’s labour shortages, which have been intensified by an ageing population and tight migration policy. Officials say the technology could support sectors such as restaurants, food manufacturing and medical care, while also building on Japan’s existing robotics expertise in areas like elder care, manufacturing and disaster response.