Nvidia partners with Fanuc and Yaskawa to boost AI robotics

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is in Tokyo this week, announcing new industrial partnerships and personally commemorating a three-decade-old investment from Sega that once saved his company from collapse. The visit underscores Japan's strategic importance to the chip giant's artificial intelligence and robotics ambitions.

On July 16, Huang announced partnerships with leading Japanese industrial automation firms Fanuc and Yaskawa Electric to advance AI-powered robotics development. Speaking at a media event, Huang stated that AI will make robots smarter, more adaptable, and more accessible, highlighting Nvidia's strategy to deepen its ecosystem in advanced manufacturing.

The business-focused trip has also been marked by significant public enthusiasm, with crowds gathering to see Huang at various appearances. On July 15, he attended an event hosted by gaming company Sega Sammy in Tokyo's Akihabara district, later dining at a traditional Japanese izakaya. His public engagements attracted technology enthusiasts and fans, some of whom traveled to see him. One Taiwanese tourist called Huang the most influential man on Earth, while another resident expressed excitement at seeing him in person.