A medical institution opening in Nagoya's Showa Ward in October will use artificial intelligence-enhanced PET-CT and MRI equipment to produce clearer images and reduce the risk of cancer being overlooked during diagnostic examinations.
The rapid spread of generative artificial intelligence is fueling construction of data centers across Japan, but plans for two large facilities beside a residential neighborhood in Minoh, Osaka Prefecture, are raising concerns over sunlight, noise and low-frequency sound as authorities confront gaps in rules governing the increasingly important infrastructure.
Expectations are growing for the wider use of "physical AI" robots, but concerns over hacking, breakdowns and maintenance are prompting companies to develop new security and support systems as the technology moves closer to everyday use.
Isuzu Motors has begun full-scale development of a second-generation "AI truck" capable of making driving decisions on its own, as Japan's largest commercial vehicle maker by domestic market share aims to introduce Level 4 autonomous driving in fiscal 2027 to help address a worsening shortage of truck drivers.
Toridoll Holdings, the operator of Marugame Seimen, has introduced an artificial intelligence system trained on the thinking and speaking style of President Takaya Awata, giving employees a way to consult a virtual version of the company's founder as the restaurant group expands to around 1,200 locations in Japan and overseas.
Hitachi is stepping up the use of digital technology, autonomous robots and physical AI to address Japan's growing labor shortage, showcasing systems designed to automate factory work and maintain critical infrastructure at one of the group's largest technology exhibitions.
Japanese startup Enactic is developing physical AI technology that combines artificial intelligence with robotic hardware, earning recognition from Nvidia while pursuing an unusual open-development strategy that makes its technology available to the public.
SB Energy, a U.S. power infrastructure company for artificial intelligence backed by SoftBank Group, said on September 1 that it has filed for an initial public offering on the Nasdaq stock market with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.