KDDI and AVITA Launch Strategic Partnership in Physical AI

Aiming for the Social Implementation of Domestically Developed Humanoids in Service Operations

Tokyo, March 2, 2026 — KDDI Corporation and AVITA Inc. today announced the launch of a strategic business partnership to advance the use of Physical AI—technology that enables artificial intelligence to interact with and influence the physical world through hardware such as humanoid robots.

Through this partnership, the two companies will jointly develop humanoids that combine AVITA’s expertise in avatar creation and teleoperation technologies with domestically developed Physical AI technologies. By leveraging KDDI’s telecommunications infrastructure, the partners aim to create an environment in which humanoids can operate seamlessly in real-world settings.

KDDI and AVITA are also exploring collaboration with the GPU resources and the on-premises service of Gemini, a high-performance generative AI model developed by Google, available at KDDI’s Osaka Sakai Data Center(Note1:), which began operations in January 2026.

From March 2 to March 5, the companies will showcase a concept humanoid powered by Physical AI at MWC Barcelona, the world’s largest mobile industry exhibition held in Barcelona, Spain. A live demonstration will highlight how the humanoid can provide customer service interactions.
For more information, please visit:(https://www.kddi.com/mwc/)

Through their previous collaboration, KDDI Corporation and AVITA Inc. introduced a next-generation remote customer service platform(Note2:) that utilizes digital avatars, enabling customers to receive remote assistance for services essential to daily life. The platform has been deployed at locations such as Lawson stores and au Style / au retail shops, helping address operational challenges for both service providers and customers.

Building on this collaboration, the two companies will expand their joint initiatives beyond digital, avatar-based verbal communication to Physical AI, enabling humanoids to move freely in real-world environments and engage in non-verbal communication.

Background

• In recent years, industries across Japan have faced increasing labor shortages due to demographic challenges such as a declining birthrate and aging population. At the same time, digital technologies—including generative AI and industrial robotics—are rapidly transforming everyday life.

• While industrial robots are highly efficient at performing single tasks, they still face limitations in handling unexpected situations such as equipment failures and in performing multiple tasks with flexibility. They are also less suited for roles that require non-verbal communication, such as nodding to acknowledge customers, pointing to provide directions, or conveying reassurance through facial expressions.

• Through this partnership, KDDI and AVITA aim to develop real-world use cases for humanoids equipped with Physical AI in customer-facing roles that require hospitality and complex human interaction.

• AVITA has also launched a new business focused on humanoids and Physical AI, offering comprehensive services that include the development, deployment, and operation of humanoids based on its expertise in avatar technologies, remote operation systems, and conversational AI.

Key Initiatives

1. Humanoid Development and Communication Infrastructure

• To enable humanoids to operate effectively in real-world environments, large volumes of data—including visual information and control commands—must be transmitted and processed in real time with low latency.

• By leveraging KDDI’s advanced telecommunications technologies, the partners will establish a robust communications infrastructure that supports both remote control and AI processing for AVITA’s humanoids. This will enable high-quality interactions in customer service scenarios.

2. Data Collection and AI Learning

• Visual and motion data generated during humanoid customer interactions will be collected and analyzed in the cloud and used to train AI models. This process will continuously improve the humanoids’ autonomous capabilities.

• The companies are also considering integrating GPU resources and the on-premises service of Google’s Gemini model at KDDI’s Osaka Sakai Data Center to accelerate AI development and deployment.

3. Trials for Commercial Deployment

• Beginning in the fall of 2026, the partners plan to introduce humanoids into real-world commercial facilities to conduct trials aimed at full-scale commercialization.

• In the future, deployment at customer touchpoints such as au Style and au retail stores is also under consideration.

Roles of Each Company

Humanoid Concept Model

1. Overview

• The concept model developed through this partnership is based on a humanoid originally designed by Hiroshi Ishiguro, CEO of AVITA and a globally recognized robotics researcher who also served as the producer of the “Future of Life” pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai.

2. Features

• The humanoid features a compact body structure similar to that of an average Japanese person, combined with silicone skin and specialized mechanisms that create warm and approachable facial expressions.

• Powered by pneumatic actuation, the humanoid operates quietly while producing smooth, human-like movements. Facial expressions and gestures change dynamically in response to spoken dialogue, and cameras embedded in the eyes detect movement, enabling natural gaze and eye contact.

• Based on learned visual and behavioral data, the humanoid can perform autonomous actions. Its responses can also be easily customized depending on the specific application scenario.

Company Profile

AVITA Inc.
Representative: Hiroshi Ishiguro, President and CEO
Officers:
Shogo Nishiguchi, Executive Vice President, COO and CFO
Hideshi Hamaguchi, Outside Director
Location: 1-8-1 Shimomeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Established: June 2021
Business Activities: Service development utilizing avatars and generative AI (avatar customer service "AVACOM," role-playing support service "AvaTraining") / Marketing support utilizing avatars and generative AI / Development and provision of humanoids and Physical AI (Embodied AI)
URL: https://avita.co.jp/en

KDDI CORPORATION
Representative: Hiromichi Matsuda, President and Chief Executive Officer
Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Business Description: Telecommunications services
URL：https://www.kddi.com/english/

(Note 1) KDDI News Release dated January 22, 2026
KDDI Launches Operations at the Osaka Sakai Data Center on January 22 — Accelerating the Social Implementation of AI Across Diverse Industries, Including the Pharmaceutical and Manufacturing Sectors, Through an AI Data Center

(Note 2) Press Release dated June 23, 2025
AVITA’s Avatar-Based Customer Service Adopted for KDDI’s Next-Generation Remote Customer Service Platform

*Gemini is a trademark of Google LLC.
*trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.