Japan: 10 Million Robots to Aid Elderly by 2040

Japan has revised its national robotics strategy with a goal to deploy 10 million robots by the year 2040. This ambitious plan now encompasses 18 fields, notably adding food manufacturing and medical care to existing priorities. A key component is the establishment of a central AI robotics hub designed to accelerate robot adoption, research, and workforce training across the nation.

This hub will be powered by Noetra, a domestic multimodal foundation model. Developed with a focus on physical AI, Noetra is a collaborative effort involving major Japanese tech firms. The government views the accumulation of data from diverse applications, including elderly care and disaster response, as a strategic advantage in global AI competition.

The strategy also fosters international partnerships for AI development and aims to stimulate AI-driven growth beyond major metropolitan areas. This push for automation is a direct response to Japan's ongoing labor shortages, exacerbated by an aging population and strict migration policies.