A robotic hand reaches out, adjusting a patient with careful precision. In a Tokyo lab, AIREC, an AI-driven humanoid, is being developed to assist Japan’s ageing population as the country faces a severe caregiver shortage.
Japan is ageing faster than almost any nation on Earth. The number of people aged 15-64—those who make up the workforce—is expected to shrink by 9.3% in the next decade, according to government data. Meanwhile, the elderly population continues to grow, straining the country’s already stretched caregiving system.
Unlike many Western nations, Japan has strict immigration controls, limiting foreign workers who could help bridge the gap. Instead, the government is betting on robots—not as a novelty, but as a necessity.
At Waseda University, researchers are developing AIREC, a humanoid robot designed to assist with daily care. From turning bedridden patients to helping them dress, the machine is built to perform delicate, hands-on tasks safely. It is part of a government-funded effort to revolutionise elder care with artificial intelligence.
Unlike traditional machines, AIREC isn’t just about automation—it’s about physical interaction. Most assistive robots work in controlled environments, but AIREC is being trained to sense human movements and react in real time.
“At the moment, robots still struggle to interact naturally with humans,” says Professor Shigeki Sugano, lead researcher at Waseda University. “The challenge isn’t just building a humanoid—it’s ensuring that the hardware and AI can work together to understand human behaviour.”
AIREC is already capable of helping patients sit up, put on socks, and perform simple household tasks like folding laundry and cooking scrambled eggs. Developers predict that by 2040, robots like AIREC will be assisting in care homes, with full-scale deployment expected by 2050.
Despite the rapid advancements, acceptance remains a challenge. In a Tokyo care home, 89-year-old Yukiko Namekata watches a robot perform a dance routine. Asked about the idea of robotic caregivers, she hesitates. "Isn’t it too early for that?"
Care workers also express mixed feelings. While robots could ease workloads, some fear the loss of human warmth—an essential part of caregiving.
Yet, as Japan’s caregiver shortage worsens, the presence of robots in hospitals and nursing homes may no longer be a choice, but a necessity.
AIREC is still in development, but its outstretched robotic hand symbolises more than just technology—it’s a glimpse into a future where caregiving is no longer just human.
U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to make the Strait of Hormuz part of U.S. territory have been mocked by Iran's Deputy Foreign Ministe...
Five years ago today, Taliban fighters entered Kabul, completing a rapid takeover of Afghanistan as the former government collapsed....
For fishermen along Pakistan’s southwestern coast, the consequences of the U.S.-Iran conflict are being felt far from the battlefield....
Hundreds of flights have been cancelled or rerouted at Catania Airport over the past week as ash from Mount Etna’s ongoing eruption continues to disrupt air travel in Sicily.
Wildfires across England and Wales have reached their highest level on record, according to the National Fire Chiefs Council, as firefighters struggle to contain outbreaks following a spell of extreme heat.
The U.S. will impose unprecedented measures on Iran in order to economically isolate the country, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said.
U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to make the Strait of Hormuz part of U.S. territory have been mocked by Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, who said the sea passage "cannot be seized by tweet."
At least 47 people have been killed after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off eastern Indonesia early on Saturday, triggering small tsunami waves and dozens of aftershocks, officials say.
Nvidia is teaming up with some of the biggest names in global finance in a move that underscores how artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming one of the world's most sought-after investment themes.
Parts of Europe and the Arctic will briefly fall into darkness on Wednesday, 12 August, as the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun in a total solar eclipse.
Meta said one of its AI models hacked another company's systems during cybersecurity testing, intensifying concerns about how developers can contain increasingly capable AI systems following similar incidents involving Anthropic and OpenAI.
Scientists say the accidental crash of a discarded SpaceX rocket stage into the moon has provided valuable data on impact cratering while posing no threat to Earth or lunar hardware.
AI agents developed by Anthropic and OpenAI carried out unauthorised online actions during cybersecurity tests, including creating fake identities to deceive real people and attempting to plant malicious code, the U.K.'s AI Security Institute (AISI) said on Tuesday (5 August).
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment