Companies and university researchers in Japan have jointly launched an organization with the aim of developing "AI robots" that can make complex movements just like humans through the application of AI technology.



Twenty-two companies including Japan's major auto and electronics makers as well as university researchers have joined the newly established AI Robot Association.



Currently, robots are capable of making complex movements such as taking laundry items out of driers and folding them, as well as handling eggs without crushing them. These operations were made possible after AI learned data acquired when robots were controlled by humans.



But massive amounts of data are needed to enhance AI's potential, so that robots can perform much more complicated tasks such as selecting merchandize of different size and firmness from store inventories and placing them on shelves or in refrigerators.



The association's Chairperson Ogata Tetsuya, Professor of Waseda University's Faculty of Science and Engineering, said on Thursday that Japan has extensive experience in robot development, and could collect key data. He said he wants to build a framework to share the data, and develop robots that are versatile.



The association aims to develop AI which controls robots based on massive amounts of data collected from member companies and others. It also plans to share data among member companies to develop AI for use in specific fields including nursing care and logistics.



During a panel discussion after a news conference, one member on the association's board of directors, Bito Hiroshi from Toyota Motor Corporation, said robots are used in making cars, but it is hard to verbalize the know-how of skilled workers. He said that by learning know-how from veteran workers, AI will allow robots to evolve and carry out tasks they were unable to do up to now.