KDDI and Avita have announced a strategic partnership to develop humanoid robots powered by “Physical AI” for real-world service environments such as retail, healthcare, entertainment, and cultural venues. The collaboration, announced March 2, 2026, combines Avita’s expertise in avatar creation, conversational AI, and remote operation with KDDI’s communications infrastructure and data systems to enable real-time robotic operation.
Key takeaways
- Humanoid robots will be trained using visual and motion data from real customer interactions, analyzed in the cloud to improve AI control systems.
- KDDI plans to leverage its Osaka Sakai Data Center (operational since January 2026) and on-premises Google Gemini services for GPU resources and AI processing.
- A concept humanoid was unveiled at MWC Barcelona (March 2–5), featuring silicone skin, pneumatic actuation for quiet and smooth motion, and eye cameras for natural gaze.
- Commercial trials are planned for autumn 2026, with potential deployment at au retail stores and other service locations.
The initiative addresses labor shortages in Japan, particularly in customer-facing roles that require flexibility and nonverbal communication—tasks historically difficult to automate. By developing humanoids that can interpret and express gestures and facial cues, the companies aim to expand robotics into sectors reliant on interpersonal interaction. The partnership also marks the launch of Avita’s new humanoid and Physical AI business unit.
Source: Robotics & Automation News (roboticsandautomationnews.com) · Published 2026-03-08 · “KDDI and Avita partner to develop humanoid robots for real-world service roles”