THG News · Policy

Japan Targets 10 Million AI Robots by 2040 in Revised AI Robotics Strategy

· Updated

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has set a goal of deploying about 10 million AI-equipped robots across 18 fields by 2040, public broadcaster NHK reported on June 30, 2026. NHK said the target, which covers sectors starting with manufacturing and medical care, comes as Japan's labor shortage worsens.

The goal is part of a revised AI Robotics Strategy. "This strategy sets a target of approximately 10 million robots to be deployed by 2040 and, with the addition of the restaurant, food manufacturing and medical sectors, will vigorously promote social implementation across a total of 18 fields," Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa said, according to AFP.

Care and medical settings in scope

The strategy document, published by the Cabinet Secretariat for the government's interministerial liaison conference on AI robotics, lists nursing care and medical care among its target fields, alongside sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, construction, agriculture and disaster response.

AFP reported that, with its aging and shrinking population, Japan hopes robots can help fill gaps in the workforce. Including nursing care puts care facilities inside the national deployment goal, alongside factories and warehouses.

Akazawa also said the government will build and grow data infrastructure for physical AI, according to AFP.

Sovereign AI model and funding

The robotics push is tied to a domestic AI effort. AFP reported that Japan will invest around $6 billion in a homegrown AI model to be developed by Noetra, a consortium of companies including SoftBank and Sony. Citing media reports, AFP said the government would provide up to $6.1 billion over the next five years, depending on the results of the initiative.

The number of companies investing in Noetra is expected to rise to 44, including firms in automotive, electronics and other manufacturing as well as finance and logistics, the Nikkei business daily reported, according to AFP.

Part of a wider growth plan

The robotics target sits inside a broader industrial plan. In May, Japan announced a 14-year growth strategy targeting public and private investment of 370 trillion yen, about $2.3 trillion, in 17 sectors including physical AI, chips, quantum technology and nuclear fusion, AFP reported.

For robot makers and integrators, the revised strategy sets a long-range demand target that spans manufacturing, logistics, food service, medical care and nursing care, with 2040 as the end point for the 10 million figure, according to NHK and AFP.

Sources