Japan’s service robot market projected to triple in five years
Latest
AI
Amazon
Apps
Biotech & Health
Climate
Cloud Computing
Commerce
Crypto
Enterprise
EVs
Fintech
Fundraising
Gadgets
Gaming
Government & Policy
Hardware
Layoffs
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
Privacy
Robotics
Security
Social
Space
Startups
TikTok
Transportation
Venture
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Newsletters
Podcasts
Videos
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
Contact Us
Posted:
Faced with an aging population and labor shortages, Japanese businesses are increasingly relying on service robots to supplement their workforce, according to Bloomberg.
Research firm Fuji Keizai projects the country’s service robot market to nearly triple by 2030, to ¥400 billion ($2.7 billion). Potentially driving that growth: The Recruit Works Institute projects that the country will face a labor shortfall of 11 million by 2040, while a government-backed institute estimates that nearly 40% of the population will be 65 or older by 2065.
To illustrate how robots are filling the gap, Bloomberg points to the country’s largest table service restaurant chain, Skylark, which uses around 3,000 cat-eared robots to bring food to tables. At one the chain’s Tokyo restaurants, 71-year-old Yasuko Tagawa estimated that half her job now involves some form of robotic assistance.
At one point, Tagawa told a robot, “Thanks for your hard work. I’ll be counting on you.”
Topics
Subscribe for the industry’s biggest tech news
Every weekday and Sunday, you can get the best of TechCrunch’s coverage.
TechCrunch's AI experts cover the latest news in the fast-moving field.
Every Monday, gets you up to speed on the latest advances in aerospace.
Startups are the core of TechCrunch, so get our best coverage delivered weekly.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice.
© 2024 Yahoo.
