5. Japan’s love affair with robots_ "9, AI real-life cases"

Japan has long been a pioneer in technological innovation that enriches the human experience. Over the past four decades, the country has taken a leading role in robotics and has sought to integrate robots into daily life to facilitate the functioning of cities and individuals.

One example is Aibo, a robotic pet dog that has taken a place in households and evoked such a deep emotional connection that when Sony closed the last repair center in 2006, the owner held a funeral for Aibo. This trend of human-machine attachment evolved with the emergence of Azuma Hikari – a holographic companion designed to be more than just a virtual assistant. Although the predicted superhuman qualities have not yet been fully realized, Hikari is capable of human activities such as playful banter and laughter.

This quest for a robot companion is an experimental journey that deeply reflects the current state of society in Japan.

Japan’s investment in the “artificial love” industry, exemplified by the Hikari and Digital Couple smartphone games, responds to these social challenges. As humanoid robots become an integral part of everyday life, serving as entertainers, security guards, and companions,

They inadvertently reveal aspects of their creators and reflect Japan's desire for companionship amid its high-pressure work culture and changing attitudes toward relationships.