Hitachi Introduces HMAX, an AI-Powered Suite for Social Infrastructure at CES 2026
Hitachi, Ltd. today announced the launch of HMAX by Hitachi at CES 2026, a suite of next-generation solutions designed to apply advanced artificial intelligence to social infrastructure. By combining data from physical and digital assets with deep domain expertise and cutting-edge AI technologies, HMAX addresses complex infrastructure challenges while maximizing value for customers and society.
HMAX leverages vast datasets generated by sensors, industrial equipment, and machinery, integrating perception AI, generative AI, agentic AI, and physical AI to transform real-world operations. Built on formalized design principles and supported by a robust partner ecosystem, the platform enhances system reliability, performance, and operational outcomes across industries.
With the expansion of HMAX, Hitachi aims to advance toward a harmonized society where environmental sustainability, wellbeing, and economic growth are balanced.
Expanding AI Across Mission-Critical Domains
HMAX combines real-time field data with Hitachi’s decades of experience in operating and maintaining large-scale infrastructure systems. This approach enables organizations worldwide to unlock new levels of efficiency, safety, and resilience.
The HMAX portfolio now spans three core categories:
- HMAX Mobility – Optimizes transportation systems through autonomous operations, predictive maintenance, and IoT-enabled mobility solutions.
- HMAX Energy – Supports secure, reliable, and sustainable energy infrastructure across the value chain by predicting and preventing failures, extending asset life, and improving efficiency.
- HMAX Industry – Enhances safety, productivity, quality, and environmental performance in buildings and factories, while improving worker and occupant wellbeing.
Hitachi plans to further extend HMAX into additional mission-critical sectors, including data centers and financial institutions.
Bringing AI into the Physical World
As labor shortages and aging infrastructure intensify across physical industries, physical AI is becoming increasingly critical. Unlike traditional AI focused on digital information, physical AI creates tangible value through real-time data analysis, predictive maintenance, robotics, and complex system optimization. The physical AI market is projected to reach approximately USD 124.77 billion by 2030.
With more than 110 years of operational technology (OT) experience in sectors such as railways, energy, and manufacturing, Hitachi is uniquely positioned to deliver AI solutions that operate reliably in real-world environments.
Hitachi is advancing its vision of Lumada 3.0 by integrating domain knowledge with AI to drive the next stage of social innovation,” said Jun Abe, Executive Vice President of Hitachi, Ltd. “HMAX represents this vision as a ‘One Hitachi’ initiative that transforms field data into actionable intelligence to solve complex social challenges.”
Jun Taniguchi, Senior Vice President and CEO of the Strategic SIB Business Unit at Hitachi, added that HMAX empowers both people and infrastructure by addressing workforce shortages, stabilizing power grids, and improving industrial operations—helping society move toward sustainable growth.
HMAX Design Principles
HMAX is built on four foundational pillars:
- Data from Digitalized Assets – Leveraging extensive datasets from power grids, railways, factories, and buildings.
- Domain Knowledge – Applying Hitachi’s deep expertise to create mission-specific, AI-ready models.
- Artificial Intelligence – Utilizing perception, generative, agentic, and physical AI to analyze data, generate insights, and autonomously execute actions.
- Partner Ecosystem – Integrating technologies from industry-leading partners to deliver robust, real-world solutions.
Proven Use Cases Across Industries
HMAX Mobility
First introduced by Hitachi Rail in 2024, HMAX is now deployed on more than 2,000 trains, consolidating data from rolling stock, signaling, and infrastructure into a single platform. Using advanced AI analytics and edge computing, the solution delivers predictive insights that reduce maintenance costs by up to 15% and lower energy consumption by 15%.
HMAX Energy
HMAX Energy combines digital services, predictive analytics, and domain expertise to maximize uptime and extend asset life. In reference deployments, Hitachi helped an Italian renewable energy operator reduce inspection time by 35%, while a digital twin implementation for Baltic Cable AB reduced incident response time by 90%.
HMAX Industry
For buildings, HMAX improves energy efficiency, safety, and occupant comfort through AI-enabled services such as access control and HVAC management. In factories, AI agents developed with partners such as Daikin Industries have demonstrated over 90% accuracy in diagnosing equipment failures within seconds, significantly improving operational efficiency.
CES 2026 Exhibition
Hitachi will showcase HMAX at CES 2026, taking place January 6–9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Live demonstrations will be available at Booth 8529 in the North Hall, and Hitachi will present its vision during the CES Foundry session, “Pioneering AI Technologies for the Physical World,” on January 8.
About Hitachi, Ltd.
Through its Social Innovation Business (SIB) that brings together IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products, Hitachi contributes to a harmonized society where the environment, wellbeing, and economic growth are in balance. Hitachi operates globally in four sectors – Digital Systems & Services, Energy, Mobility, and Connective Industries – and the Strategic SIB Business Unit for new growth businesses. With Lumada at its core, Hitachi generates value from integrating data, technology and domain knowledge to solve customer and social challenges. Revenues for FY2024 (ended March 31, 2025) totaled 9,783.3 billion yen, with 618 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 280,000 employees worldwide.