THG News · Product Launch

SoftBank Robotics Launches AI-Equipped Pepper+ for Tourism and Care Settings

· Updated

SoftBank Robotics announced Pepper+, a new version of its Pepper humanoid robot equipped with an AI agent, on February 2, 2026, according to Japanese technology publication GIGAZINE. The company developed the robot for use across a wide range of fields, including tourism, medical care and nursing care, GIGAZINE reported.

The original Pepper, created in 2014, was recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's first mass-produced humanoid robot, according to GIGAZINE.

What is new

The main addition is an AI customer service agent that uses the robot's camera to recognize people and suggest products based on their clothing and conversation, GIGAZINE reported. The chest tablet has been upgraded to a new model with an AI agent built in, according to the same report.

GIGAZINE listed a sensor set that includes a head touch sensor, a microphone, a 2D camera and a 3D sensor, along with a gyro sensor, hand touch sensors, infrared, laser and sonar sensors, and bumper sensors. The report also described additional applications, including office access control based on facial recognition, quiz-style games and photo and poster generation. GIGAZINE's report did not name the language model behind the agent.

Pricing

SoftBank Robotics offers Pepper+ through an annual AI utilization plan priced at 79,800 yen per month and a one-month short-term plan priced at 150,000 yen, according to GIGAZINE. Both are usage plans rather than outright purchase prices.

First tourism deployment

On June 18, 2026, SoftBank Robotics said it would introduce Pepper+ at relark Izu-Kogen, a Tokyu Corporation facility opening on July 11, 2026. According to the SoftBank Robotics release, the 55-seat facility is directly connected to Izu-Kogen Station on the Izu Kyuko Line.

At the site, Pepper+ handles facility guidance, such as how to use the space, pricing plans and membership registration, the company said. It also uses its camera to analyze visitor attributes and tailor tourism recommendations through spoken dialogue, according to SoftBank Robotics. The company said the AI customer service agent supports Japanese, English, Mandarin Chinese and Korean.

SoftBank Robotics said that, based on its own research, this is the first use of the Pepper+ AI customer service agent for tourism guidance. The company framed the project as a way for regional facilities to serve diverse visitors while reducing staff workload. Japanese business site Business+IT described the deployment as a response to labor shortages at tourist destinations.

Sources