Hitachi, Ltd. and FANUC announced on September 30, 2026, that they have entered into a strategic partnership toward the commercialization of Physical AI (Artificial Intelligence) implementation. By combining Hitachi's AI technology with FANUC's industrial robots, the companies will promote the joint demonstration and deployment of Physical AI.
Hitachi and FANUC to Partner for Physical AI Joint Ventures, Aiming for Global Expansion from Fiscal 2027
This article is a translation. Read the Japanese original
The two companies will utilize Hitachi's plants in the Ibaraki region as "Customer Zero" (their first customer), aiming to establish the technologies necessary for implementation in manufacturing sites by fiscal 2027. The verification will include recognition accuracy and movement during the picking of various parts and changeovers, as well as tact time and quality effectiveness. Additionally, they will confirm the effectiveness of combining edge AI semiconductors developed by Hitachi with FANUC robots.
The implementation and operational know-how gained through these joint demonstrations is planned to be deployed starting in fiscal 2027 across a wide range of industrial sectors—including semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and logistics—leveraging the companies' global track records of deployment.
Sources
- 日立とファナックがフィジカルAI協業 日立エッジAI×ファナックロボ有効性も検証 （ITmedia AI+、2026-10-01）