TOKYO, July 16 (Reuters) – Nvidia said on Thursday it was partnering with Japanese companies including Fanuc and Yaskawa Electric to advance the development of robotics and AI.
“With AI, robots will become smart, easily adaptable and accessible,” Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said at a media event in Tokyo.
Separately, Noetra, a government-backed company whose investors include Sony, said it would buy 27,500 Nvidia Rubin chips as it develops physical AI.
Huang has achieved rock star status in Taiwan and his appearances have also generated interest from onlookers in Japan, which boasts leading companies in the chip supply chain.
On Wednesday Huang attended an event held by gaming firm Sega Sammy in the Akihabara electronics district and ate dinner at a Japanese “izakaya” pub.
The business leader, who has worn his signature leather jacket during the trip despite the summer heat, handed out bread and tea to media and bystanders in front of the restaurant.
Huang was also pictured with executives of supply chain firms including the CEOs of chipmaker Kioxia and equipment maker Tokyo Electron.
“I think he’s the most influential man on Earth,” said Chang Hui-Yu, a 57-year-old Taiwanese tourist, speaking outside the Sega event.
“It was my first time seeing Jensen Huang in person and I was so excited,” said Brian Yang, 37, who is Taiwanese and lives in Tokyo.
While Japan’s market share in chipmaking has shrunk since the 1980s, it retains a lead in many niches in materials and equipment.
Investors are weighing the strength of the AI investment cycle, with chipmaking equipment maker ASML on Wednesday raising its sales forecast and pledging capacity expansion.
TSMC, the world’s leading contract chipmaker, posted record earnings on Thursday and raised its capital spending forecast.
At a government AI event, Huang was joined by industry minister Ryosei Akazawa, who was also wearing a leather jacket.
“I’m so happy the two of us have a similar sense of style,” Huang said, addressing the minister.
(Reporting by Sam Nussey, Irene Wang and Anton Bridge. Editing by Sonali Paul and Mark Potter)
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