Lawson Tests AI Glasses to Boost Store Productivity

Oct 30, 2025 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Lawson is introducing a new concept for convenience stores, aiming to enhance operational efficiency through the use of AI-powered digital glasses.

The technology, designed to support staff in real time, was unveiled on October 28th at the "KDDI Summit 2025," a business event focused on exploring the future of digital innovation.

The "AI Glasses" integrate artificial intelligence capable of analyzing images, visualizing workflows, and providing hands-free assistance. By simply asking questions, employees can receive verbal, textual, or visual instructions from the device. For example, when a store clerk asked how to properly slice a pork cutlet, the AI responded, "Cut the tonkatsu into five equal parts, approximately 2 centimeters wide from the right edge."

The system allows businesses to register manuals and procedures in advance so that the AI can deliver responses tailored to specific tasks. It also supports multiple languages, enabling effective communication and knowledge sharing across diverse workforces and contributing to global human resource development.

Equipped with a camera, the glasses record and analyze workplace footage, making it possible to visualize tasks and working hours for efficiency improvements. All video data undergoes mosaic processing to ensure that customer personal information remains protected.

Kenji Komorita from KDDI’s Advanced Technology Division described the AI Glasses as “a new digital transformation tool that converts on-site information into data for AI-based support.” He added that the company hopes the technology will “help improve various operations and address labor shortages.”

Lawson began trial operations using the AI Glasses on October 28th, testing their potential to optimize workflows and enhance collaboration at its stores.

Source: FNN

Toyota to Launch Self-Driving Taxis in 2027

Toyota Motor will begin operating fully autonomous taxis in 2027 through a partnership with U.S. self-driving technology company Waymo, marking a major step in the Japanese automaker's efforts to expand driverless transportation services.

Mount Fuji Puts on First Snowcap

Mount Fuji has received its first snowcap of the season, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced on October 30, after temperatures at the summit plunged to minus 9.4 degrees Celsius, marking the arrival of winter conditions on Japan's highest mountain.

Chinese Female Spy Suspected of Targeting Nvidia Chief

U.S. intelligence agencies suspect that a Chinese female intelligence operative developed a close relationship with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in an attempt to obtain confidential corporate and U.S. government information, according to a report published by The New York Times on October 29th.

Japan Blocks Websites Leaking GMO Personal Data

The Japanese government has asked major telecommunications operators to forcibly block access to websites believed to contain personal information stolen in a cyberattack on GMO, it emerged on October 29th, as authorities moved to prevent further exposure of sensitive data online.

Typhoon No. 31 Heads Toward Japan's Remote Islands

Typhoon No. 31 was located near Minamitorishima Island in the Pacific Ocean, as of 3 a.m. on October 30, and was expected to approach the Ogasawara Islands south of Tokyo over the October 31-November 1 weekend while maintaining very strong intensity, bringing a growing risk of dangerously high waves, powerful swells and extremely rough seas.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Web3 NEWS

What an AI Ad Generator Solves for a Shop Serving Foreign Visitors

A visitor stands outside a small restaurant in Kyoto trying to work out three things. Whether the place takes cards. Whether they need a reservation. And whether walking in without Japanese is going to be awkward for everybody.

Aeon Unveils AI-Powered Warehouse

Japanese retail giant Aeon unveiled a logistics warehouse on October 30 equipped with "physical AI" robots capable of independently sorting and stacking products, allowing the company to automate approximately half of its warehouse operations while increasing loading efficiency to four times that of manual labor.

PixAI Opens New Creative Possibilities for Anime Storytellers

Artificial intelligence is opening new possibilities for digital creativity, allowing people to transform ideas into illustrations, animated characters and short films without the extensive technical skills or expensive production equipment traditionally required, with platforms such as Japan-inspired AI art service PixAI bringing these capabilities to a growing community of creators.

Growing on TikTok on a Budget: 5 Services Worth Comparing

Building a TikTok presence on a limited budget means weighing every expense. For creators comparing paid follower, like, and view packages, the headline price is only part of the decision.

KDDI Plans 1,000 AI Robots to Tackle Labor Shortages by 2030

Japanese telecommunications giant KDDI announced on October 28 that it will invest 30 billion yen in physical artificial intelligence by fiscal 2030, aiming to deploy more than 1,000 autonomous robots across retail, logistics and manufacturing facilities as Japan searches for solutions to its worsening labor shortage.

Balmuda Announces Personalized AI Radio Service

Japanese home appliance maker Balmuda announced a personalized AI radio service on October 27 that uses artificial intelligence to create approximately 10-minute programs tailored to individual listeners, combining news, weather forecasts and topics based on their interests.

Can AI Predict Typhoons Better Than Supercomputers?

Artificial intelligence has demonstrated greater accuracy than conventional supercomputer models in predicting the path of Typhoon No. 30, which was forecast to approach Okinawa before turning northeast toward Japan, highlighting the growing potential of AI in weather forecasting while raising questions about how its predictions can be verified and used in disaster preparedness.

Why Crypto Casinos Are Winning Over Global Players in 2026

The appeal of cryptocurrency casinos has started to develop as we have gone through 2026.

< 2 3 4 5 >