Japan Targets 10 Million More Robots by 2040 as Labor Shortages Spread to Care and Food
Updated
Updated · TechRadar · Jul 5
Japan Targets 10 Million More Robots by 2040 as Labor Shortages Spread to Care and Food
3 articles · Updated · TechRadar · Jul 5
Summary
Japan's revised robotics strategy calls for about 10 million additional robots by 2040, extending deployment beyond factories into medical care, food production and beverage manufacturing.
Labor shortages from an aging population and tight migration policies are driving the push, with nursing homes and food factories identified as priority sites for large-scale adoption.
Noetra — a domestic multimodal foundation model backed by SoftBank, NEC, Sony Group and Honda — will anchor a national AI robotics hub for deployment, research, training and data infrastructure.
Officials said data from elderly care, disaster response, manufacturing and Fukushima Daiichi decommissioning supports the plan, while partnerships with institutions in the US, Canada, France and the UK will help develop the base model.
The government also wants the platform used widely across Japan's regions and eventually overseas, as South Korea's similar robotics push adds regional pressure to build sovereign AI capabilities.
With a massive ICT worker shortage, can Japan's 10 million robot goal succeed without changing its strict immigration policies?
Japan bets a trillion yen on robots for its aging society. Is this a technological utopia or a very expensive gamble?
As robots enter Japanese hospitals and homes, who will own and protect the sensitive personal data they gather?
Japan’s 10 Million Robots by 2040: Ambitious National AI Plan to Solve Labor Shortages and Lead in Physical AI
Overview
Japan has launched an ambitious national robotics strategy to deploy 10 million AI-powered robots by 2040, directly addressing its severe labor shortages and rapidly aging population. By integrating automation into 18 key sectors, including medical care and food production, Japan aims to offset workforce gaps and expand its capabilities beyond traditional robotics. Central to this plan is the development of a sovereign AI model by the Noetra consortium, positioning Japan for global leadership in artificial intelligence. This strategy not only tackles domestic demographic challenges but also strengthens Japan’s role in the global race for technological innovation.