Carnegie Mellon University joins Fujitsu on physical AI research center

Fujitsu, the Japanese IT firm, on Thursday announced the launch of a joint center for physical artificial intelligence, called the Fujitsu-Carnegie Mellon Physical AI Research Center.

According to the announcement, the center will “jointly advance research and development of core technologies to enhance the capabilities and scalability of physical AI, with the aim of serving as a global research hub that drives the social implementation of these technologies.” Physical AI, the integration of AI software into robotic or mechanical systems, will help address “key societal challenges—such as improving productivity, mitigating labor shortages, and ensuring safety,” according to the firm.

“At the Center, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of physical AI, faculty members from CMU across a wide range of disciplines—including robotics, machine learning, language technologies, human–computer interaction, electrical and computer engineering, civil and environmental engineering, and philosophy—participate in the joint research. Researchers will work alongside Fujitsu scientists, engineers, and technicians to develop physical AI systems designed to tackle real-world challenges. This close collaboration with industry informs and inspires new research directions to meet critical demand,” the announcement reads.

Researchers from across the university are expected to participate, not only from engineering and computer science schools, but philosophy and language professors are also slated to join.

The center is to “leverage” the university’s Robotics Innovation Center, a 150,000 sq. ft. facility that opened in February. The center will reportedly provide “specialized facilities and collaborative space to test physical AI in real-world environments.”