日本机器人产业正在经历战略转向。[1]发那科、安川电机、软银等龙头企业已相继放弃独立自研的路线，转而与谷歌、英伟达等AI平台深度合作，通过引入先进的AI大脑加速产品迭代和商用部署。[1]其中发那科与谷歌合作采用Gemini构建智能体，股价盘后暴涨近14%；[1]安川电机则部署英伟达GR00T和Isaac Sim技术，2025年上半年机器人业务营收占比达46%，历史上首次超越运动控制业务。[1]
这一转变源于日本面临的严峻劳动力缺口。[1]到2040年日本劳动力缺口将达1100万人，其中护理服务缺口率为25.3%、商品零售24.8%、物流司机24.2%。[1]为应对这一挑战，日本已修订"AI机器人战略"宏观目标，计划在2040年前导入1000万台AI机器人，[1]且计划在2030年前于制造、建设、零售、警备等领域先行部署35万台机器人。[1]软银也为此达成收购ABB机器人业务的协议，交易额约54亿美元。[1]
与此同时，全球市场格局正在重塑。[1]2025年全球人形机器人出货量前六名全部是中国公司，合计占比约85%，而日本虽在产业机器人市场握有约七成全球份额，但在服务机器人市场份额仅一成多。[1]日本正在老年护理、零售等特定场景积累独特数据优势，目标是在2040年拿下20兆日元市场、全球份额超三成。[1]英伟达首个开放式人形机器人参考设计已选定宇树科技产品为本体。[1]
Japan's robotics sector has undergone a strategic transformation, abandoning its traditional fully independent development approach in favor of deep collaboration with global AI platforms.[1] Leading companies including FANUC, Yaskawa Electric, and SoftBank have begun integrating advanced AI systems from partners such as Google and NVIDIA to accelerate product iteration and commercial deployment.[1]
FANUC has partnered with Google to build intelligent agents using Gemini technology, resulting in a substantial 14% after-hours surge in its stock price.[1] Yaskawa Electric has adopted NVIDIA's GR00T and Isaac Sim technologies, with robot business revenue reaching 46% of total revenue in the first half of 2025—marking the first time this segment has exceeded its motion control business.[1] SoftBank has agreed to acquire ABB's robotics division for approximately $5.4 billion.[1]
The strategic shift reflects Japan's recognition of where it holds advantages and where it faces challenges. While Japan commands roughly 70% of the global industrial robotics market, its share in the service robotics sector stands at only around 10%.[1] In contrast, Chinese competitors have taken the lead in humanoid robot mass production and overall system integration capabilities, with Chinese companies accounting for approximately 85% of the global top six humanoid robot shipments in 2025.[1] Japan is now focusing on accumulating unique data advantages in specific sectors such as elder care and retail to compete for global market share.[1]
Japan has revised its national "AI Robot Strategy" with an ambitious macroeconomic target: deploying 10 million AI robots by 2040.[1] By that year, Japan faces a projected labor shortage of 11 million workers, with critical gaps of 25.3% in care services, 24.8% in retail, and 24.2% in logistics driving.[1] Interim goals include deploying 350,000 robots across manufacturing, construction, retail, and security sectors by 2030.[1] Japan aims to capture a 20 trillion yen market and secure over 30% of global market share by 2040.[1] NVIDIA's inaugural open-source humanoid robot reference design has selected Unitree's product as its core platform.[1]