On November 11th, people watch Sony Corp.'s robotic dogs Aibo at a ritual ceremony Sichi-Go San, which is usually held for praying for children's health and wellbeing, at the Kanda Myojin shrine in Tokyo. In an interview with Sony Chief Technology Officer Hiroaki Kitano, several companies in the world have enough technology accumulated to make them quickly, once it is clear which uses are promising, according to Sony Chief Technology Officer Hiroaki Kitano.
We will make an investment for manufacturing only if it is necessary. We believe that robots are a potential in humanoid robots, but we also believe that other forms of robots are important as well. Sony launched a robot dog called Aibo more than two decades ago. It sold about 150,000 units from 1999 to 2006 and then unveiled an advanced version in 2018, selling about 20,000 units in the first six months.
Humanoid robots have been in development for decades by Honda Motor Co. and Hyundai Motor Co. In September, Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk showed off a prototype of its humanoid robot Optimus.
Musk's company plans to deploy thousands of robots in factories, expanding the company's capacity to millions around the world.
Kitano said Sony, armed with expertise in audio-visual technology and rich entertainment content, including music and video games, was well positioned to play a major role in the metaverse, or immersive virtual worlds.
The idea that consumers will spend more time in online simulated environments is encapsulated by the metaverse. While the concept is evolving, it has become a buzzword in briefings and a driver of industry earmarking.
He said that it's not like people would show up just because they've created a venue. Content is what makes orbreaks the metaverse.
Kitano told a media briefing Sony will strengthen its research and development activities and define sensing, artificial intelligence AI and digital virtual spaces as key technical domains to drive Sony's business expansion.
Kitano told reporters that the technology is the result of sensors, AI and virtual spaces, and will be our great strength.
Sony's image sensors are widely used in smartphones and becoming key auto components as carmakers try to reduce traffic accidents and move towards autonomous driving.