Humanoid robots have been under development for decades by Honda Motor Co and Hyundai Motor Co, and in September, Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk showed off a prototype of his humanoid robot Optimus.
Musk’s company plans to deploy thousands of robots in its factories, which will eventually spread to millions of people around the world.
Kitano said Sony, armed with expertise in audio-visual technology and rich entertainment content including music and video games, is well positioned to play a major role in the metaverse, or immersive virtual world.
The metaverse is a vague term that encompasses the idea that consumers will spend more time online in simulated environments. While the concept is evolving, it has become a topic of discussion at briefings and a driver of industry determination.
“For the metaverse, it’s not that people will show up just because you’ve created a space … Content is what makes or breaks the metaverse,” he said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Kitano told a media briefing that Sony would strengthen its research and development activities and defined sensing, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital virtual space as key technology domains to drive Sony’s business expansion.
“Sensors, AI and virtual space interlocking together is the core of our technology and will be our great strength,” Kitano told reporters.
Sony’s image sensors are widely used in smartphones and have become a key auto component as carmakers strive to reduce traffic accidents and move toward autonomous driving.