Japanese AI provider bringing its conversational technology into a compact service robot
Headquarters
Tokio
Employee
—
Models here
1
Listings
0
ZEALS was founded in Tokyo in 2014 and initially started with robotics development, but switched to the chatbot business in 2016. This made the company one of the pioneers of Japanese chat commerce and today manages over 400 corporate customers according to its own information. In November 2025, ZEALS returned to hardware with the Omakase Robotics division in order to bring its own conversational AI into the physical space.
The first proprietary device is the D1, a compact service robot on a chassis with six wheels that deliberately forgoes legs and is tailored to Japanese interiors. It is layered with two software components: Omakase OS, available as middleware for autonomous navigation and human-robot interaction since January 2026, and Omakase Zen, a manipulation model that learns from field data in real-world operations. Both layers are designed to run on third-party robot platforms as well.
Japan once shaped humanoid robotics but has recently been overtaken by Chinese manufacturers. Omakase Robotics therefore focuses not on spectacle but on proven operation: at the end of August 2026, the company announced the D1's first hospital deployment with five validated tasks over 35 hours. For the current fiscal year, the company is targeting 100 units built and 10,000 cumulative operating hours.
D1
Wheeled service robot · Hospitals and industry
Omakase OS
Middleware · Navigation and interaction
Omakase Zen
Manipulation model · Learns from field data
Founding of ZEALS in Tokyo, initially with robotics development.
Shift to the chatbot business and development of Japanese chat commerce.
Funding round totaling five billion yen, including Salesforce Ventures and Japan Post Capital among others.
Launch of robotics division Omakase Robotics in November.
Omakase OS available in January, D1 robot unveiled on August 5, first hospital deployment at end of August.
No distribution partner known in Switzerland. Sales and pilot projects have so far been conducted directly through the manufacturer in Japan.