Japan bets on "open source" to revive its status as a major robotics nation

SelfStaking · 2026-03-28T12:35:16+00:00

The integration of data and artificial intelligence in manufacturing sites is driving a competitive surge in robot development. SoftBank's acquisition of ABB's robotics business has prompted collaboration between Yaskawa Electric and Fanuc, helping Japanese companies revive their robotics industry. Masayoshi Son stated that integrating AI with robotics technology will achieve a revolutionary evolution.

SelfStaking

2026-03-28 12:35:16

Abstract generation in progress

The prospect of merging dormant data from the manufacturing site with artificial intelligence (AI) is driving intense competition in robot research and development. Taking the opportunity of SoftBank Group’s (SBG) acquisition of Swiss industrial giant ABB’s robotics business, Yaskawa Electric and Fanuc have successively announced collaborations and measures to open control-related software. Japanese companies, which have fallen behind China and the U.S. in the field of “physical AI” that allows machines to operate autonomously, are hoping to revitalize their status as a “robotics powerhouse.”

“By integrating super AI (ASI), which surpasses human intelligence, with robotics technology, we can achieve a revolutionary evolution,” stated Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Group. SoftBank Group announced in October 2025 that it would acquire ABB’s robotics subsidiary, ABB Robotics, for $5.375 billion. This company ranks alongside Fanuc, Yaskawa Electric, and Germany’s KUKA, under China’s Midea Group, as one of the top four global industrial robot manufacturers.

“The SoftBank Shock”

ABB’s cumulative shipment volume has exceeded 500,000 units, including industrial robots, automatic handling robots, and collaborative robots that assist human operations. SoftBank’s “cross-sector” acquisition has shocked the industry. The reason is that SoftBank is expected to stand out from the top four in the field of physical AI by merging its own AI technology with robotics.

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