CEATEC 2026: The explosion of the Physical Artificial Intelligence trend.

On October 13th, the leading Japanese digital equipment and technology exhibition (CEATEC) opened at the Makuhari Messe convention center in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, bringing together over 820 domestic and international businesses and organizations. One of the highlights of this year's event is physical AI, a technology expected to boost automation, increase productivity, and help address the labor shortage in Japan.

Unlike pure AI that processes numerical data, physical AI is an intelligent system that combines AI with robots, sensors, and control systems, allowing machines to perceive their real-world environment, make decisions, and adjust their actions according to each situation.

While traditional industrial robots primarily perform pre-programmed tasks, this technology enables robots to adapt more flexibly to changes in the position, shape, and characteristics of objects, expanding their applications in manufacturing, logistics, and everyday services.

A number of major Japanese technology companies showcased unique physical AI solutions at the exhibition. Mitsubishi Electric Corporation presented physical AI applications aimed at automating manufacturing and goods handling operations.

Notably, the demonstration featured a humanoid robot capable of recognizing and arranging items of varying shapes and sizes on shelves. This technology aims to help robots adapt to diverse workplace situations, rather than simply performing fixed tasks.

The company also introduced a robotic arm control solution for assembly tasks requiring the ability to adjust force and angle of operation similar to that of a skilled worker.

Meanwhile, Murata Manufacturing, in collaboration with Melt Interface Technologies, introduced the ContactGlove3 Pro, a hand-tracking glove. The device uses electromagnetic field measurement technology to accurately record the movements of five fingers without the need for an external camera, allowing for continuous data collection for over eight hours.

This data can be used to train robots, control them remotely, and retain the skills of experienced workers, thereby supporting the automation of complex manual tasks.

This year's leading Japanese digital equipment and technology exhibition also dedicated space to showcasing cybersecurity defense technologies against ransomware threats. NEC Corporation introduced an Artificial Intelligence system for early detection of cyber intrusions, accompanied by a simulator to help businesses practice emergency response procedures.

Physical Artificial Intelligence, emerging at Japan’s leading Digital Technology & Equipment Exhibition 2026, shows that the focus of technological development is expanding from information processing to the ability to interact and act in the real world .

For Japan, where many economic sectors are under pressure from labor shortages and an aging population, combining Artificial Intelligence with robotics could help reduce repetitive tasks, improve production efficiency, and assist workers in performing highly skilled tasks.

However, for physical artificial intelligence to be widely deployed, businesses still need to address challenges related to accuracy, safety, investment costs, and adaptability to real-world working environments.

Collecting high-quality data and transferring skills from humans to machines are also crucial conditions for technology to be effective.

The Japan Leading Digital Equipment and Technology Exhibition 2026 will run until October 16th./.

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