Japan Seeks 10 Million AI Robots by 2040 as Workforce Shrinks

Hospitals and factories in Japan already struggle to fill positions, and a growing number of employers are turning to machines for daily tasks. Startup Zeals recently introduced the D1 in Tokyo, a wheeled machine with a humanoid form that costs from 5 million yen, or about $32,000. The indoor unit stands 129 cm tall, recognizes faces through a camera, and each of its two arms can lift a maximum of 5 kg. Zeals intends to build 100 units by March 2027 and accumulate 10,000 hours of running time, selling through dealers and leasing partners. The company writes its own software and buys components from American and Chinese suppliers, but it eventually hopes to use only Japanese parts.

In late August 2026, a hospital in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, trialed the robot for leading visitors and clearing tables in its dining space. "It is important to gather training data and ensure that it is actually useful in real-world settings," said Masahiro Shimizu, CEO of Zeals.

Kakuichi, a Nagano firm that sells steel and systems for managing energy, will onboard a humanoid machine among its new graduates in April 2027. Play Robotics, a firm that studies humanoids, is helping Kakuichi install and run the Chinese-built robot called Miyazawa Noah. Kakuichi intends to assign the robot to manufacturing, sales and other departments so that it builds skills by doing real work. "Developing a humanoid robot is also about fostering employees who will make full use of it," said Riu Tanaka, CEO of Kakuichi.

Insurers are preparing for the dangers that the machines create. Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance has joined forces with Zeals to sell policies built for D1 users, counting on demand from hotels, hospitals, factories and logistics firms. It acknowledges that the use of these robots will be associated with some mishaps, whether physical or cyber-related. "There are risks of causing harm to people or property, as well as concerns about data breaches in cyber-attacks," said Masaki Oshiro, manager of the 1st Branch Office at the insurer's Tokyo East Branch.

In July, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance acquired shares in a Japanese firm developing physical AI, which lets robots learn new tasks on their own. The purchase was meant to give the insurer a closer look at how such systems behave and what could go wrong with them. Buying into a developer while already selling policies suggests the insurer is still learning what these robots can do and how often they fail. While Japan makes moves to boost its workforce with robots, the performance and impact of these robots on its economy is uncertain.

Editor's Summary

Japan plans to deploy 10 million AI robots by 2040 to offset a shrinking and aging population projected to fall to about 112.2 million. Startups such as Zeals are testing workplace robots, while Kakuichi will add a humanoid in 2027 and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance is selling policies for robot-related risks. The effort is moving into hospitals and factories, but the robots' performance and economic impact remain uncertain.