Japan has unveiled an ambitious national strategy to develop its own AI model and deploy 10 million AI-powered robots by 2040. The goal is to strengthen the country’s technological independence while helping address labour shortages caused by its ageing population. Over the next five years, the government plans to invest up to one trillion yen to support Noetra, a consortium of leading technology companies.
The robots will be deployed across 18 industries, including healthcare, food production, hospitality and manufacturing. The initiative focuses on „physical AI“ for real-world applications while expanding the country’s data infrastructure. It also aims to encourage broader industry participation, strengthening Japan’s competitiveness, particularly against the United States and China.