Inside Intersect Japan: Physical AI, Built for Japan The June 2026 event showcased Applied Intuition’s prowess in physical AI across the country’s automotive, trucking, and industrial sectors — and announced SDS expanding to Japan. Few countries have shaped modern industry more than Japan. Its automakers, equipment manufacturers, and industrial companies helped establish global standards for engineering, quality, and continuous improvement. From passenger vehicles and commercial trucks to construction equipment, mining machinery, and factory automation, Japanese OEMs have spent decades building some of the world’s most sophisticated physical systems. Today, many of those same companies are confronting a new transition: how to bring software and AI into the machines that power the global economy. That made Japan a fitting location for Intersect 26: Japan, where Applied Intuition brought together more than 200 attendees including thought leaders from across the automotive, trucking, construction, mining, and technology sectors to discuss the future of physical AI. Held last week at Otemachi Mitsui Hall in Tokyo, the event explored how a new generation of intelligent machines is emerging at the intersection of advanced software, artificial intelligence, and Japan’s deep engineering expertise. For those in attendance, it was also an inside look at how Applied Intuition, a leader in physical AI, views the ecosystem. Adriano Quiroga, head of vehicle intelligence, detailed the decade of simulation, validation, and other work that went into building the expertise and infrastructure that now allows us to deploy physical AI across industries. Chief Scientist Wei Zhan presented a new paradigm for autonomous driving and the cutting-edge AI technologies behind AV 3.0. Meanwhile, Deputy CTO Malhar Patel offered his vision for how companies can become AI native, from engineering to talent to finance. And Will Lin, head of automotive, discussed semiconductor economics and the path to one-box architecture. Collectively, the presentation offered