Fanuc showcases evolved physical AI integrated with collaborative robots, deepening partnerships with Google and NVIDIA.

What happened: Fanuc held its 35th New Product Announcement & Exhibition from May 18–20 at its newly opened Central Technical Center in Yamanashi. The company displayed collaborative robots in the CRX series combined with AI systems, advancing the physical AI concept it introduced at last year's International Robot Exhibition. Fanuc also announced a partnership with Google and deepened its collaboration with NVIDIA.

Why it matters: Physical AI—which enables robots to understand and act in physical environments—represents a next-generation capability for industrial automation. By pairing collaborative robots with AI and aligning with major cloud and chipmaker partners, Fanuc is positioning itself to serve factories and manufacturers that need more autonomous, adaptive systems.

What to watch: Fanuc's CEO stated the company wants attention on 'the evolution of physical AI,' signaling this is the company's strategic focus. The technical showcase at the new Central Technical Center (moving from previous venues) underscores the scale of investment Fanuc is committing to demonstrating these capabilities to industrial customers.