Nvidia partners with Japan robotics firms on AI development

TOKYO, July 16 (Reuters) - Nvidia NVDA.O said on Thursday it was partnering with Japanese companies including Fanuc 6954.T and Yaskawa Electric 6506.T to advance the development of robotics and AI.

"With AI, robots will become smart, easily adaptable and accessible," Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said at a media event in Tokyo.

On Wednesday Huang attended an event held by gaming firm Sega Sammy 6460.T in the Akihabara electronics district and ate dinner at a Japanese "izakaya" pub.

Huang has achieved rock star status in Taiwan and his appearances have also generated interest from onlookers in Japan, which boasts leading companies in the chipmaking supply chain.

"I think he's the most influential man on Earth," said Chang Hui-Yu, a 57-year-old Taiwanese tourist, speaking outside the Sega event.

"It was my first time seeing Jensen Huang in person and I was so excited," said Brian Yang, 37, who is Taiwanese and lives in Tokyo.

Huang was pictured last night with executives of leading Japanese supply chain firms including the CEOs of chipmaker Kioxia 285A.T and equipment maker Tokyo Electron 8035.T.

Investors are weighing the strength of the AI investment cycle, with chipmaking equipment maker ASML ASML.AS on Wednesday raising its sales forecast and pledging capacity expansion.

TSMC 2330.TW, the world's leading contract chipmaker, is expected to post a fifth consecutive quarter of record earnings on Thursday due to the AI boom.