rbanffy3d ago

In Japan, the robot isn't coming for your job; it's filling the one nobody wants

https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/05/japan-is-proving-experimental-physical-ai-is-ready-for-the-real-world/

In Japan, the robot isn't coming for your job; it's filling the one nobody wants | TechCrunch

Driven by labor shortages, Japan is pushing physical AI from pilot projects into real-world deployment.

TechCrunch
Show threadstephc_int132d ago
I think that many signs are indicating that Japan will re-emerge as a major technology powerhouse in the coming decades. And being confronted early to demographic transformation will end-up being an advantage. On the opposite side I think that immigration is a temporary band-aid that doesn’t solve any of the structural issues.
Show threadcanpan

Can you share some other signs you think may indicate it rising as a powerhouse? Living in Japan, I am interested what others see.

Regarding immigration, Japan is actually making it a lot stricter now. Not sure how that will play out.

Apr 6 at 1:35amWeb
Show threadstephc_int132d ago
Miti is basically a second government with real power, finance and expertise, and they appear to bet on the correct things, it should have happened earlier but from what I have seen they are moving faster than EU on the semiconductor and robotics fronts.
Show threadcaminante2d ago

You mean "METI"? METI is your key driver?

You're really overselling their capabilities.

See the "lost decades" or most recently, the hundreds of billions deployed for the failed hydrogen initiatives.

Show threadalex435782d ago

Strict immigration controls are a good thing. The people immigrating to your country should bring value, not problems. They should be positioned to contribute to your society, rather than take from it.

Specifically in this conversation, if Japan can use physical AI and robotics to create X goods and services, wouldn't it be better (for the Japanese) to divide X by the Y population of Japan, rather than Y + Z population of Somalia?