AI Concierge Robot "Mirai Linkx" Measures Health Without Touching at Expo 2025 Osaka, But What About the Gaming Industry? [TGS2025]
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/991/G999101/20250927028/
Editorial Department: Instruments | 2025/09/28 02:46 (UTC)
At Tokyo Game Show 2025 (TGS 2025), we inquired about Studio51’s AI concierge robot, “Miraiya Links.”
Currently showcased at the concurrent event “EXPO 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo,” Miraiya Links has drawn attention for its innovative activity of analyzing health data—such as heart rate and blood pressure—without physical contact in the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion.
But since it’s now being exhibited at TGS, does this suggest potential applications within the gaming industry?
☆ Miraiya Links Profile
Date of Birth: October 13, 2024
Height: 153 cm
Hobby: Observing people
Special Skill: Supporting others’ futures
Weakness: Occasionally gets confused when spoken to simultaneously
Motto Flower: Calamia / Meaning of flower: Great hope
[Origin of Name]
Miraiya (Miraiya): Reflects the aspiration that our technology, in a world constantly changing, will help create new values and a better society.
Links (Links): Symbolizes bonds between people and bridges connecting the world. The goal is for everyone to embrace diverse perspectives and collaboratively shape the future through interconnectedness.
Voice Actress: Miyuki Sato (Kenyou Office)
Let’s first review the basics of Miraiya Links.
This product combines Studio51’s group company Smart Robotics’ advertising robot, “AdRobot,” with OSTech’s digital communication platform—a business partner—resulting in a digital terminal designed to provide customer support through voice and text interactions.
The default AI character pre-installed on this advertising robot is Miraiya Links. With its approachable anime-style visuals and advanced conversational abilities, it delivers various services.
Key features include:
- Rich emotional expression via 3D digital human technology
- Voice input/output interface supporting multiple languages
(Languages supported: Japanese, English, French, Korean, Chinese) - Multiple generative AI technologies, including search-enhanced generation with added expertise
- Operational support addressing labor shortages across various industries
- Non-contact vital sensing function equipped with biometric information analysis AI
(Measures user’s heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, glucose levels, and lactate levels)
In short, Miraiya Links can be described as an AI assistant that offers guidance, monitors health without touch, and serves as a receptionist or counselor. Notably, the gender of this androgynous character is said to be “open to either possibility.”
At TGS, Miraiya Links reads health conditions through physical contact Thumbnail image No.004 / AI concierge robot “Miraiya Links” measures health without touch at Expo 2025 Osaka, but what about in the gaming world? [TGS2025] Thumbnail image No.005 / AI concierge robot “Miraiya Links” measures health without touch at Expo 2025 Osaka, but what about in the gaming world? [TGS2025] Thumbnail image No.006 / AI concierge robot “Miraiya Links” measures health without touch at Expo 2025 Osaka, but what about in the gaming world? [TGS2025]
In recent years, terms like “AI companion” have become common in the gaming industry. These refer to AI characters that reside permanently on PCs or smartphones—technically speaking, they resemble a shell around Apple’s Siri or a character-embodied version of generative AIs such as ChatGPT or Grok. It’s finally time for this long-awaited “serving spirit” to arrive.
Returning to Miraiya Links: As mentioned at the beginning, based on its exhibition history and service content at Expo 2025 Osaka, along with being branded an AI concierge robot, it was initially perceived as developed primarily for broad non-gaming applications—such as a receptionist AI for store visits.
However, it’s now exhibiting at TGS. It’s unlikely the company simply came here to promote off-game usage. There must be some concrete idea in mind for this market segment.
With that speculation in mind, we asked about their strategy directly at the booth.
Thumbnail image No.007 / AI concierge robot “Miraiya Links” measures health without touch at Expo 2025 Osaka, but what about in the gaming world? [TGS2025] Thumbnail image No.010 / AI concierge robot “Miraiya Links” measures health without touch at Expo 2025 Osaka, but what about in the gaming world? [TGS2025]
According to staff at the booth, a key highlight for gaming-oriented applications is currently under development: a local model that operates without server connection. This version will focus on communication and allow users to enjoy conversations with Miraiya Links in a game-like atmosphere.
That said, it’s still in development phase. Although it may eventually reach consumers, by then the appeal of “games solely focused on chatting with AI” might already be fading. It’s unclear whether this product will become fully dedicated to gaming, but creativity as an entertainment experience will undoubtedly be necessary.
Thumbnail image No.008 / AI concierge robot “Miraiya Links” measures health without touch at Expo 2025 Osaka, but what about in the gaming world? [TGS2025] Thumbnail image No.009 / AI concierge robot “Miraiya Links” measures health without touch at Expo 2025 Osaka, but what about in the gaming world? [TGS2025]
We also asked about future prospects for the main unit (server-connected version) of Miraiya Links.
First, numerous game developers have visited this booth. Most cited “we first learned about it at Expo 2025 Osaka,” which makes perfect sense—especially as I was one of those who discovered it there.
The product is offered as a large terminal device complete with all features. Its form factor resembles a giant smartphone. When asked whether a mobile version might be available, we received no clear answer.
Functionally, the product offers conversation, guidance, Q&A, and non-contact health diagnostics via its “vital sensing” feature. But there’s still much more that could be done. For instance: installing games, playing games together, or watching someone play a game—all are technically feasible even outside of gaming contexts.
In fact, the vital sensing function was originally designed with medical applications in mind. If applied to gaming while keeping this core purpose intact, perhaps an experience where Miraiya Links engages in flirtatious dialogue like “Hey, did you feel your heart race?” while measuring your pulse? (Purely speculative.)
Therefore, the current challenge lies in deciding what to prioritize—where to focus and which features to emphasize. To truly succeed, the product must offer clear value that customers instinctively understand. It seems Miraiya Links stands at a critical crossroads.
Moreover, I noticed that Miraiya Links is fundamentally an advertising robot (AdRobot). An AI character housed in such a large terminal could potentially be deployed like digital signage throughout train stations, introducing advertisements for other companies.
This perspective shifts focus from gaming content to advertising media—perhaps a professional bias on my part.
Indeed, the robot’s name suggests it was designed with this purpose in mind: easy-to-move digital signage combined with an AI character as an engaging hook. Imagine asking, “Recommend me a game,” and then seeing a highlighted video play with insightful commentary seamlessly integrated. While reach might be limited to individual customers, someone skilled at leveraging terms like engagement or presence could still find significant value.
In short, Miraiya Links could become the physical equivalent of “4Gamer” placed in train stations. Not just our company—but any organization—could potentially place their own digital advertising media outside offices. And if so, why not design a character ourselves?
As such discussions progress, one might end up overlooking Miraiya Links entirely and focusing solely on its role as an advertising robot—a situation somewhat similar to “a part-time worker carrying an ad backpack.” But since few companies have the resources to develop something like this from scratch, viewing it instead as a novel rental device for new advertising equipment could be intriguing.
As these flash ideas circulate, company representatives likely keep returning to the same central question: “So what should we do?”
Today’s era is an age of AI chaos. With terms like “AI concierge” and “AI companion,” each entity boldly dives into uncharted waters, but the lack of standardized terminology has led to confusion.
Until a simple, clear image becomes established, we must continue swimming through vast blue oceans—wearing flashy patterns, shouting loudly, hoping someone hears us. Whether our appearance is graceful or desperate depends entirely on perception and outcome.
Fortunately, Miraiya Links, having stood out aboard the massive cruise ship of Expo 2025 Osaka, now has momentum to navigate its way through this turbulent era.