Japanese engineers create an AI-assisted ‘human washing machine’ of the future
Japanese engineers have created the “Mirai Ningen Sentakuki” or “human washing machine of the future.” This invention was unveiled at the Osaka-Kansai technology exposition in 2024. This futuristic device uses AI to analyze your body before blasting you with a customized “wash-and-dry” process.
Science Co., the Osaka-based showerhead company behind the bizarre contraption, says that the washing machine takes just 15 minutes to run a complete human rinse cycle. The pod measures 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) long by one meter (3.28 feet) wide, allowing most people to lie down comfortably inside.
Once the hatch has been sealed, the pod fills halfway up with water, leaving the bather partially submerged. They are then blasted by high-speed water jets containing extremely small air bubbles less than three micrometers in diameter. This jet-fighter cockpit-shaped pod uses powerful jets of bubbles to clean the skin of dirt and grime.
The brand’s ‘Holidays are Coming‘ ad has been a staple on screens since it was first released in 1995, but last year’s update caused uproar with viewers and critics. Despite a massive amount of outrage when they released their AI Christmas ad last year, Coca-Cola has decided to do it again for 2025.
Hollywood writer Alex Hirsch even went as far as to condemn the advert by saying: ‘Coca-Cola is red because it’s made from the blood of out-of-work artists,’ but whether or not it was because people liked the ad or were just curious about it, the ad was seen as a commercial success.
With that in mind, the company decided to do it again for their 2025 campaign, highlighting how far AI has come in the past year.
Speaking on the new ad, Global VP and Head of Generative AI at Coca-Cola, Pratik Thakar, told The Hollywood Reporter: “Last year we decided to go all in, and it worked out well for us, consumer engagement was very high.
However, rather than just scrubbing the skin, Science Co. says that the human washing machine offers an experience capable of ‘washing the soul’. The pod monitors the bather’s vital signs, such as their heartbeat, to ensure they are safe and comfortable. At the same time, an AI interprets this information to work out if they are calm or excited and projects a specifically selected video onto the inside of the plastic pod to soothe their nerves.
This device might seem like something from the future, but the design is actually based on a 50-year-old concept. At the 1970 Japan World Exposition, Sanyo Electric Co., now Panasonic Holdings Corp., showcased the very first human washing machine. The big difference was that this 1970s version also included dozens of plastic ‘massage balls’ which pelted the user to aid in relaxation and promote circulation.
Now, Science Co. has manufactured an updated version that has gone on sale in Japan. But it doesn’t come cheap, with a pod costing £290,000 (60 million Japanese yen). The company says that it will make a limited run of 40 to 50 human washing machines at first. Thanks to the enormous price tag, most of these will likely end up in high-end spas and hotels in Japan.
However, even if you might not be able to install one in your bathroom right away, there is still hope for the future. A Science Co. spokesperson said in a statement: “In the future, if the technology evolves further and mass production systems are established, there is a possibility that a more affordable home-use model may emerge.”
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