Physical AI & Robotics

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is undergoing a rapid paradigm shift. It is transitioning from screen-bound assistants (Perception and Generative AI) to autonomous software entities (Agentic AI), and finally to Physical AI—intelligence that possesses a physical body (embodiment) to perceive, understand, and act within the real physical world. This comprehensive analysis explores the cutting-edge trends in Multi-AI Agent systems, the rise of Physical AI, and how industry leaders

At the Humanoids Summit Tokyo 2026, Terence Bennett, Executive Director of the Bay Area Robotics Association (BARA), presented a landmark session titled “Building the Global Physical AI Ecosystem: From Silicon Valley to International Collaboration”. His address outlined a comprehensive global strategy to fuse software intelligence with advanced manufacturing, tracing the historical evolution of the industry to explain why physical AI is entering a dramatic growth phase. The T

Beyond Mobility—The Evolution of Honda’s Robotics Philosophy At the Humanoids Summit 2026, Honda presented its latest breakthrough in physical automation under the title "Honda’s New Multi-Fingered Hand." The presentation, delivered by Takahide Yoshiike, Executive Chief Engineer at Honda R&D Frontier Robotics, marked a major milestone in Honda's robotics philosophy. For more than two decades, Honda’s humanoid robot, ASIMO, captured the world's imagination, conducting frequen

The robotics industry is currently standing at the precipice of a historical technological milestone. Drawing on Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam, Aska Liu described the present moment as the beginning of an era in which humanoids move from research prototypes into practical use, calling it the "creation of humanoids". Liu, founder and CEO of EnduX, previously led Insurtech, AI-platform, and voice-bot businesses at OneConnect Financial Technology, part of Ping An Group, af

Japan is embarking on a historic socio-economic transformation, executing a massive national strategy to integrate its artificial intelligence, data utilization, and robotics policies. This unified policy push aims to realize the widespread deployment of Physical AI—systems where intelligence interacts directly with the physical world—to secure Japan's industrial competitiveness in a rapidly changing global economy. The initiative represents a profound shift from purely virtu

At Humanoids Summit Tokyo 2026 (held in Tokyo on May 28–29, 2026), Hanya Huang, Operation Partner at High Torque Robotics, presented Mini Pi and Mini Pi+, the company’s compact bipedal and full-body humanoid platforms. Her central argument was that humanoid development will not scale through better AI models alone: developers also need affordable, modular hardware, stable control infrastructure, simulator-compatible software, and accessible documentation. During the live demo

Introduction: The Rising Titan of Physical AI Infrastructure In the rapidly accelerating race to develop physical AI and humanoids, a massive data bottleneck has emerged. While the industry has historically focused on building better hardware, the true battleground has shifted to the underlying data and evaluation infrastructure. Leading this paradigm shift is Lightwheel, a Physical AI simulation and data-infrastructure startup founded three years ago, which secured approxima

At the IVS2026 session "Government as a Catalyst: Building Next-Generation Industries Through Public Demand"—held under the event’s banner theme of "Japan’s Back"—industry leaders and policymakers gathered to outline a radical paradigm shift in Japan’s industrial and startup strategy. The panel brought together a prominent lineup of speakers: Hiroshi Ishikawa, Director, Innovation and New Business Promotion Division, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Kazuhiko Chu