Taipei: Japanese robotics pioneer Hiroshi Ishiguro stated on Tuesday that Taiwan is well-positioned to play a crucial role in the humanoid robot sector by capitalizing on its semiconductor and key component strengths.
According to Focus Taiwan, Ishiguro, a professor from Osaka University known as the "father of humanoid robots," emphasized at the SEMICON Taiwan 2025 forum that Taiwan should prioritize developing diverse applications through the integration of electronics, sensors, and critical parts rather than competing with China on cost. He highlighted that avatar-based robot software, which facilitates remote interaction via virtual doubles, is poised for faster development due to its convenience and adaptability.
Ishiguro expressed interest in observing whether Taiwan's industry, academia, and society are as open as Japan to adopting avatar-based interactions and did not dismiss the possibility of collaborating with local companies. Despite advancements in artificial intelligence making humanoid robots smarter than they were 25 years ago, Ishiguro warned that applications remain limited, especially in tasks requiring dexterity and sensory precision. He projected that it will take another decade before substantial market demand emerges.
Addressing market demand, Ishiguro noted that it remains the decisive factor, citing the discontinuation of Honda's ASIMO and Sony's humanoid robots due to weak commercial uptake. Acknowledging China's rapid progress, he pointed out that Chinese humanoid robots are "significantly cheaper," complicating direct competition for Taiwan and Japan. He also mentioned the challenges of establishing a non-China supply chain for humanoid robots due to high production costs in other countries.
Despite these challenges, Ishiguro underscored that Taiwan's expertise in semiconductors and component manufacturing provides it with an opportunity to influence future applications. Looking forward, he anticipates that the humanoid robot market will become viable only after another decade of development.