Panasonic’s AI Strategy Enters the Implementation Phase: Real-World Impact for Better Future Showcased at CES 2026

The Panasonic Group announced its AI strategy at CES last year, aiming to expand its AI-powered hardware, software and solutions businesses for the next phase of growth. At CES 2026, held in Las Vegas from January 6–9, the Group showcased the latest outcomes of the strategy.

Under the theme of “The Future We Make,” this year’s exhibition focused on solutions for AI infrastructure, such as data centers, as well as AI-based B2B solutions and Green Transformation (GX)-related environmental solutions. Some of these solutions are already being implemented in the real world. Through these exhibits, visitors can see the steady progress of the Panasonic Group’s contributions to the creation of a better future empowered by AI.

Responding to the rapid evolution of AI, data centers are drastically changing in their role and scale. To support the massive growth in computational demands, data centers are consuming increasingly greater amounts of electricity, and their stable operation—24/7/365—has become essential as social infrastructure. This change has created unprecedented complex and difficult challenges such as “stable power supply,” “response to high heat generation,” “reliability of uninterrupted operation,” and “cyberattacks on physical infrastructure.”

The Panasonic Group is contributing to the stable non-stop operation of data centers by putting forward comprehensive solutions on these issues. We are leveraging our technological assets and integrated strengths in manufacturing that have been developed over many years as an electronics manufacturer.

Furthermore, the Panasonic Group is committed to contributing not only to the components that make up data centers, but also to the evolution of the semiconductors themselves, which are at the heart of these data centers. Next-generation semiconductor manufacturing facility technology improves the “middle-end process” and bridges front-end and back-end stages of semiconductor manufacturing. This technology contributes to realizing energy-saving advanced semiconductors and helps enhance energy efficiency for entire data centers.

In addition, amidst the increasing number of cyberattacks targeting OT (Operational Technology) areas, such as power control and cooling systems, the Group is proposing cybersecurity measures for data centers, leveraging the knowledge that the Group has developed through monitoring its own factories. The Group is striving to support the safe operation of critical infrastructure with its proprietary advanced anomaly detection technology.

In the logistics, retail, and service industries, daily decision-making is becoming more complex than ever due to labor shortages and fluctuations in demand. To address these challenges, the Panasonic Group has been developing effective B2B solutions by integrating AI technology with on-site knowledge that the Group has accumulated over many years. The goal is to create workplaces where people can work more safely, securely, and comfortably.

Blue Yonder, a leading solution provider supporting the Panasonic Group’s digital supply chain transformation, showcased its role in optimizing distribution facilities and inventory management. The “Edge Interactive Table” exhibit visually presented Blue Yonder’s vision for the warehouse of the future. Through interactive imagery, visitors could easily understand the benefits of next-generation warehouse automation powered by advanced technologies, including camera vision, robotics, RFID*, and sensors.

* Radio Frequency Identification

For retail shops, Hussmann—Panasonic Group’s global provider of refrigeration and freezing solutions for food retailers—showcased its next‑generation RLN2A and SIM4 freezer/refrigerator cases, which use the natural refrigerant R‑290 to help reduce environmental impact. The company also presented its electronic shelf‑tag solution and StoreConnect, a remote monitoring system for refrigerated cases.

For the service sector and other non-manufacturing industries, the Panasonic Group has introduced CPS* 2.0, a cross-industry, on-site data visualization and optimization solution. The solution utilizes IoT, sensors, and AI to capture a variety of data related to on-site spaces. It then converts and integrates that data for AI. From that data, the AI identifies on-site issues and proposes solutions. At the exhibition, graphics and video were used to clearly present the impact of introducing the system across various kinds of facilities—such as in manufacturing, restaurants, and fisheries.

* Cyber-Physical System

Panasonic Group is working toward the realization of a decarbonized society under its long-term environmental vision, Panasonic GREEN IMPACT. A key focus of this initiative is the development of solutions that accelerate Green Transformation (GX). At CES 2026, the group unveiled its latest AI-powered technologies for environmental solutions.

The Panasonic Group also introduced an automatic home appliance disassembly system designed to significantly improve recycling efficiency for used household appliances. At the heart of the system is the “Disassembly CPS,” which visualizes disassembly ease and simulates and optimizes disassembly motions and time using 3D CAD. The resulting data informs new product design and automated disassembly robots. Visitors could watch a video demonstration of robots disassembling appliances, such as washing machines and microwave ovens. They could also see a physical model of a heat pump unit for a prototype washing machine designed for automatic disassembly. Together, these exhibits demonstrated the company’s steady progress toward building next-generation recycling infrastructure that supports a circular society by increasing the efficiency of reuse of materials and remanufacturing components.

At CES 2026, the Panasonic Group demonstrated how its AI strategy is being translated into concrete solutions. Through the steady implementation of technologies across various sectors of society, the Group’s vision for the future is taking shape. We will continue these initiatives and look forward to sharing updates on progress with you.