GMO AI & Robotics Becomes Authorized Distributor of Unitree Robotics in Japan

On June 19, 2026, GMO AI & Robotics Corporation (GMO AIR) the AI and robotics arm of Japan's GMO Internet Group signed a formal authorized distributor agreement with Hangzhou Unitree Robotics Co., Ltd., making GMO AIR the official channel for Unitree's robot products in the Japanese market.

 Under the agreement, GMO AIR will distribute Unitree's core product lineup in Japan, including the humanoid robots G1 and H1, as well as the quadruped robots Go2 and B2. The distribution scope covers the full commercial spectrum from R&D and proof-of-concept demonstrations through to full business deployment with GMO AIR proposing the optimal model based on each customer's specific operational requirements.

 A One-Stop Solution: Sales, Implementation, and Secure Communications

 What distinguishes this partnership from a standard distribution arrangement is GMO AIR's commitment to end-to-end implementation support. The company will provide customers with a comprehensive service stack that includes: on-site challenge identification, implementation planning, motion development, system integration, robot operation and maintenance, and safety verification.

 Critically, GMO AIR will layer GMO Internet Group's security infrastructure on top of every deployment. The group's world-class white-hat hacker team and security monitoring capabilities will ensure that all humanoid robots operating in customer environments do so within a robustly secured communications framework; a consideration that has become increasingly important as humanoid robots move into sensitive industrial and public-facing environments.

 Why Japan, Why Now

 GMO AIR's rationale for focusing on humanoid robots is grounded in a structural insight: the vast majority of Japan's social and industrial infrastructure buildings, doors, stairs, desks, vehicles, and production lines was designed around the human body. Humanoid robots, which share that same physical form factor, can be deployed into these existing environments without requiring costly modifications to facilities or workflows. This compatibility advantage is especially powerful in Japan, where ageing infrastructure and acute labour shortages across logistics, manufacturing, construction, facility management, and airport operations are creating urgent demand for scalable automation solutions.

 GMO Internet Group Founder, Chairman and Group CEO Masatoshi Kumagai articulated the strategic vision directly:

 "The value of generative AI is not confined to what appears on a display. It is only when AI gains a physical form through robotics that it can unlock its power to transform the real world. This is what we call 'Physical AI.' Because much of our social infrastructure has been designed around humans, we believe humanoid robots offer the most compatible solution  one that enables us to leverage existing environments rather than replace them. By bringing together the Group's expertise in communications, cloud, security, and finance, GMO AIR will serve as a bridge between Japanese companies and the world's most advanced humanoid robotics industry and will lead the way in driving its implementation in society."

 GMO AIR's Track Record with Unitree

 GMO AIR is not entering this partnership without field experience. The company has already deployed Unitree's G1 humanoid in its own services, accumulating hands-on expertise in motion development through reinforcement learning and real-world field operations. Its existing initiatives include:

• Humanoid Dispatch Service. A robot rental programme allowing customers to run proof-of-concept trials at their own sites without purchasing hardware, enabling GMO AIR to build cross-industry operational knowledge simultaneously.
• GMO Humanoid Lab Shibuya Showroom. One of Japan's largest Physical AI R&D bases, located in Shibuya, Tokyo, where humanoids from multiple manufacturers are compared, evaluated, and programmed for industry-specific motion profiles.
• GMO Robots Athletics Project. A collaboration with the GMO Internet Group Athletics Club, Japan's Ekiden championship winners to train humanoids in elite human running technique, targeting fully autonomous high-speed locomotion and participation in the World Humanoid Robot Games.
• JAL Group Airport Demonstration. Japan's first demonstration experiment using humanoid robots at an airport, conducted at Haneda Airport in collaboration with JAL Ground Service Co., Ltd., targeting labour-saving in baggage and cargo handling operations.

Primary Sources:

1. GMO Internet Group "GMO AI & Robotics Becomes an Authorized Distributor in Japan for Unitree Robotics, the World's No. 1 Humanoid Manufacturer"(June 19, 2026)
2. Unitree Robotics Official Website
3. GMO AI & Robotics Official Website Company background, Humanoid Lab, and Dispatch Service details

Disclaimer: All editorial content is independently written based on publicly available sources. The GMO Internet Group press release dated June 19, 2026 is the sole primary source for all facts, figures, and direct quotations in this article.