Dozo, a Tokyo‑based digital‑health startup, and Sumitomo Life, Japan’s leading insurer, have launched a Physical‑AI Wellbeing Co‑Creation project that embeds adaptive artificial intelligence into everyday health products. The partnership combines Dozo’s AI companion platform with Sumitomo Life’s insurance data to create edge‑deployed AI assistants that guide users through personalized wellness routines while preserving privacy.
Why Physical AI Is Transforming Wellbeing
Physical AI moves beyond cloud‑only analytics by operating directly on devices that interact with the real world. This shift enables real‑time feedback, lower latency, and stronger data protection, making AI‑driven health guidance more reliable and user‑friendly.
Key Benefits of Edge‑Deployed Physical AI
- Instant personalization: AI adapts to biometric signals and daily habits without needing constant internet access.
- Enhanced privacy: Sensitive health data is processed locally, reducing exposure to external networks.
- Higher reliability: On‑device inference continues to function even in low‑connectivity environments.
Co‑Creation Model at the Core
The initiative follows a collaborative framework that blends human expertise with AI adaptability. Human specialists provide domain knowledge and ethical oversight, while AI agents deliver pattern detection and real‑time adjustments.
Development Stages
- Joint ideation – insurers, AI engineers, and users define shared goals.
- Iterative prototyping – rapid testing of wearable and home‑hub prototypes.
- Shared evaluation – continuous feedback loops from clinicians and policyholders.
- Continuous learning – AI models refine themselves based on aggregated, anonymized data.
Core Features of the AI Companion
- Data‑centric empathy: Integrates sleep, activity, stress, and contextual cues to understand user wellbeing.
- Interactive world models: Predicts the impact of lifestyle changes before they occur, helping users make informed decisions.
- Edge‑first deployment: Runs inference locally on wearables or home hubs, ensuring low latency and privacy.
Economic and Regulatory Landscape
Embedding AI in physical health products promises productivity gains for insurers and users alike. Compliance with Japan’s updated Personal Information Protection Act (APPI) is achieved by keeping data processing on‑device and transmitting only anonymized aggregates, balancing innovation with strict privacy standards.
Implications for the Health‑Tech Ecosystem
- Accelerated preventive care: Real‑time AI guidance can reduce claim frequency by prompting early lifestyle adjustments.
- New insurance offerings: Continuous wellbeing monitoring enables usage‑based premiums and wellness incentives.
- Industry standards: The project’s transparent methodology may shape future safety, explainability, and edge‑deployment guidelines for physical AI.
Next Steps
The partnership will begin with a six‑month pilot involving 5,000 Sumitomo Life policyholders who receive prototype wearables equipped with Dozo’s AI companion. Outcomes from the pilot will inform a broader rollout, pending regulatory review and performance validation.
