Japan’s SoftBank teams up with Alibaba to sell its "human-like" robot Pepper

Japan's SoftBank Corp said today it was setting up a joint venture with Chinese online shopping giant Alibaba and electronics supplier Foxconn Technology sell its human-like robot Pepper around the world.

According to a joint statement from the companies, the robots which the mobile phone and internet conglomerate envisioned serving as baby-sitters, medical workers or even party companions - would go on sale to general consumers from Saturday for ¥198,000 each plus monthly fees and insurance.

The waist-high robot, which was already in use in stores including SoftBank's mobile phone shops, is capable of learning and expressing human emotions, the Japanese firm said.

Foxconn already produces Pepper. However, a general sale, especially with the involvement of Alibaba, would require greater investment, some analysts said.

SoftBank said it would have a 60-per cent stake in the joint venture, with Alibaba and Taiwan-based Foxconn each spending ¥14.5 billion for 20-per cent stakes.

According to SoftBank chief executive Masayoshi Son, the partnership was a first step to becoming a top robotics business.

He said the company would aim to be No 1 in robotics.

Details of when and where the robot would go on sale outside Japan were still undecided. According to Son though, the first overseas sales would likely happen next year, with the rest likely to start later this year.

Son said the robot would develop its own 'personality'', depending on how people interacted with it. Pepper has the ability to remember faces and was programmed to be happy when it was given attention but becomes irritated and depressed when it was not. It would also cheer up sad people and try to mitigate suffering, he added.

Son himself became emotional while explaining to reporters and guests what was in store for the 121 centimeter (48 inch) tall, 28 kilogram (62 pound) white Pepper. He stressed the company's commitment to robots, especially smart robots that could provide interaction in everyday life.

Although Son acknowledged the idea of making robots that appeared to have human traits might not appeal to some people, he said such technology could be transformative.