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July 01, 2026
 

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ROBOTS

The industry ministry announced ¥387.3 billion in funding to develop a domestic foundation model for physical AI that controls robots, aiming to strengthen the country's competitiveness against the United States and China.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 30, 2026
Japan announces aid for domestic AI development project
The industry ministry aims to help the country catch up with the United States and China in AI technology.
Sony is halting sales of its Aibo robotic dog in Japan, ending an era for the interactive pet that became an instant hit and developed its own personality.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 26, 2026
Sony discontinues Japan sales of Aibo robot puppy
The first iteration of Aibo came out in 1999, followed by numerous models over the years.
A GMO AI and Robotics humanoid robot performs a dance at an international exhibition at Tokyo Big Sight in December.  REUTERS
COMMENTARY / Japan / Geoeconomic Briefing
Jun 24, 2026
Japan’s manufacturing sector and the race for physical AI
Turning industrial strength into leadership in the next AI frontier.
People stand near humanoid robots on display at the Nvidia booth during the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, China June 22, 2026.
BUSINESS / Tech
Jun 23, 2026
Nvidia seeks to make humanoid AI robots safer around humans
The chipmaker is offering software and semiconductors that will allow humanoids to truly interact with people — even making physical contact if necessary.
A visitor interacts with a Unitree G1 Humanoid Robot during the London Tech Week at Olympia, in London, earlier this month.
BUSINESS / Tech
Jun 19, 2026
Robots pour cocktails and run marathons, but still can’t multitask
Many are either run by a human with a remote control or stuck doing one narrow task.
Indian housewife Nagireddy Sriramyachandra wears a smartphone on her head and records herself slicing mangoes at her home in Chennai.
BUSINESS
Jun 17, 2026
The Indian workers training AI robots to take their jobs
Developers think feeding first-person footage, called “egocentric data,” into specialized AI models will help robots copy humans.
A boxing robot demonstration at Unitree in Hangzhou, China, last year. Building on the country’s electric vehicle industry, Chinese companies are making robot parts at a scale and price point others can’t match.
BUSINESS / Tech
Jun 13, 2026
Why it’s nearly impossible to build a robot without China
Building on the country’s electric vehicle industry, Chinese companies are making robot parts at a scale and price point others can’t match.
A humanoid robot is displayed at the Humanoids Summit in Tokyo on Thursday.
BUSINESS / Tech
May 29, 2026
Labor shortage fuels ramp-up of humanoid robot development
Declining birth rates across the globe are driving an “unprecedented wave of investment” in robots to sustain workforces.
Omakase Robotics&#039; <i>omotenashi</i> customer service humanoid at Humanoids Summit in Tokyo on Thursday
BUSINESS / Tech
May 28, 2026
Humanoids Summit gives Tokyo a peek of a robotic future
A major talking point at the two-day event is how crucial artificial intelligence-powered robots might be for tackling Japan’s labor shortage.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping shakes hands with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the Palace of Serbia during the Chinese president&#039;s two-day state visit to Belgrade in May 2024.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
May 23, 2026
Chinese missiles and robots find warm welcome in EU’s backyard
If the European Union has a red line in Serbia’s relationship to China, President Aleksandar Vucic may be getting close.
An AI industrial humanoid robot is demonstrated at Foxconn’s annual tech day in Taipei in November.
COMMENTARY / World
May 15, 2026
Will artificial intelligence solve wealthy nations’ debt woes?
If anything, the technology is likely to cause profound — and costly — problems on the way to the halcyon future.
Monster Wolf, a wolf-like robot, next to a rice field in Kisarazu, Chiba Prefecture, in August 2017.
ENVIRONMENT / Wildlife
May 13, 2026
‘Robot wolves’ in high demand to scare off bears in Japan
Monster Wolf is an animatronic scarecrow with flashing red eyes that howls and growls menacingly to scare away wild animals.
A Maholo humanoid robot carries out a series of tasks at the Institute of Science Tokyo&#039;s Robotics Innovation Center, during the center&#039;s opening last month.
JAPAN / Science & Health / FOCUS
May 4, 2026
Japanese scientists push for AI use in medical research and diagnoses
The technology has the potential to free staff from time-consuming, repetitive lab work and reduce human error.
A humanoid robot performs ground handling tasks at Tokyo&#039;s Haneda Airport on Monday.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 28, 2026
Japan Airlines to test humanoid robots for airport ground handling work
In the test, two robots will carry out tasks such as transporting containers and opening and closing levers that secure them.
A professional table tennis player competes against Sony AI autonomous robot Ace in December in Tokyo.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 23, 2026
Table tennis robot Ace makes history by beating top-level human players
The feat could presage an array of other applications for similarly adept robots.
A robot and its engineers take part in the second Beijing E-Town Half Marathon and Humanoid Half Marathon in Beijing on Sunday.
BUSINESS / Tech
Apr 20, 2026
Humanoid robots race past humans in Beijing half-marathon, showing rapid advances
Developers showed off the fast-improving robots and their autonomous navigation skills, highlighting the sector’s rapid technical advances.
The Agile ONE industrial humanoid robot. The market for AI-powered robots and autonomous machines has the potential to balloon into a trillion-dollar opportunity by 2035, according to Barclays analysts.
BUSINESS / Tech
Apr 2, 2026
Humanoid robots offer Europe path to stay in tech race
The market for AI-powered robots and autonomous machines has the potential to balloon into a trillion-dollar opportunity by 2035, according to Barclays analysts.
Humanoid robots are making rapid progress, but their widespread deployment remains limited by safety, power and performance challenges.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 18, 2026
The era of humanoid robots is here: Governments must seize the moment
The reality is that most people overestimate what robots can do at this point in their development.
Integral AI, which has worked with Denso since 2021 to help teach industrial robots new skills, is holding discussions with other major Japanese companies to pitch them on how artificial intelligence can advance manufacturing processes.
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 9, 2026
Former Google AI researcher sets up AI robotics startup in Tokyo
The startup is holding initial discussions with Toyota, Sony Group, Honda, Nissan and Mitsui Chemicals to pitch them on how AI can advance manufacturing processes.
A robot arm unveiled by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings for use in the trial removal of nuclear fuel debris at its tsunami-crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, on Wednesday in Fukushima Prefecture
JAPAN
Feb 26, 2026
Tepco unveils new robot arm for nuclear debris removal
The 22-meter-long robot arm can grab debris from a wider area than fishing rod-like devices previously used at the tsunami-crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.
Uruguay federation reportedly cancels charter flight after World Cup exit
Uruguay&#039;s Jose Maria Gimenez reacts after the team&#039;s loss against Spain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday.
Inside Japan’s rigid adoption system, a British family finds a way
James Benstead, his wife, Jesse, and their three children. Their adopted son is in the rear stroller.
India’s gig workers pay the price for exposure to New Delhi’s hazardous air
Rohit Kushwaha waits for a customer as he delivers his last parcel of the day, in New Delhi in January. His work as a delivery driver has helped pay the family’s bills, but has had a significant impact on his health.
Yen hits 40-year low against the dollar, breaking ¥162 level
Japan&#039;s currency broke ¥162 to the dollar on Tuesday in Tokyo.
Japan falls in gut-wrenching fashion as Brazil strikes late to win World Cup clash
Brazil&#039;s Gabriel Martinelli (right) shoots past Japan defenders Shogo Taniguchi (left) and Takehiro Tomiyasu to score in the second half of a match in the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Houston on Monday.
Japan’s fertility system offers few safe paths for same-sex couples
A Tokyo Pride parade participant holds a sign that says "we want to be a married couple, not a couple."
Inside Japan’s rigid adoption system, a British family finds a way
James Benstead, his wife, Jesse, and their three children. Their adopted son is in the rear stroller.
A French ship with close ties to Japan combines arts and sciences on the high seas
Romain Troublé, the executive director of Tara Ocean Foundation, speaks to visitors aboard the Tara during a rare port call in Tokyo in April.
In Kyushu’s far south, Senti.U sparks a culinary destination
Chef Yasuhiko Uchida was born in Saga Prefecture but has made his home in Kanoya, Kagoshima Prefecture, since 2012.
‘The colors speak for themselves’: How Japan’s chroma bible went global
“A Dictionary of Color Combinations” is meant to function as a quick-reference guide for artists, designers and anyone with a passing interest in aesthetics as a quantifiable pursuit.

Podcast

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