Humanoid robots start sorting luggage in Tokyo airport test amid labor shortage

Japan Airlines and GMO AI & Robotics announced a three-year demonstration experiment to test humanoid robots for ground handling tasks at Tokyo's Haneda Airport beginning in May 2026, aimed at reducing the need for workers and cutting employee workloads amid a severe labor shortage. Two Chinese-made robots will carry out tasks such as transporting containers and opening and closing levers that secure them. Future plans include enabling the robots to operate autonomously, expanding the range of tasks they can perform.

Source: Ars Technica | 2026-04-28