Wednesday, 22 July, 2026
National AI Rescue: Noetra Positions Physical AI as Japan’s Last Stand
By TechShots Studio
Government-backed AI venture Noetra has secured over ¥380 billion ($2.33B) in first-year funding and support from 44 corporate titans, including SoftBank, Sony, and Honda. Developing a domestic foundational model for physical AI and robotics, CEO Hironobu Tamba called the initiative Japan’s "last chance" to achieve technological self-sufficiency and compete against the U.S. and China amid severe labor shortages.