NEC Debuts 'Physical AI': Robots That Predict Human Psychological Stress

NEC Corporation has debuted a first-of-its-kind Physical AI system designed to reduce human stress in shared industrial environments. Using a proprietary "World Model," the AI can predict human movement trajectories and even estimate psychological tension through non-contact biometric sensors.

Preventing the Uncanny Valley

By proactively adjusting a robot's speed and pathing based on the predicted state of nearby workers, the system prevents the jerky, unpredictable movements that often lead to workplace anxiety and accidents. NEC aims to deploy this technology in warehouses and hospitals where human-agent collaboration is becoming the norm.