TOKYO—Sony Corp.’s return to robotics, a step announced this week along with a bullish profit outlook, reflects a commitment to its roots as a consumer-electronics giant, Chief Executive Kazuo Hirai said.

Mr. Hirai, who spent much of his early tenure streamlining the company’s troubled portfolio, said on Thursday that it was time to start taking steps toward a more-ambitious future, and robotics will be part of that journey.

“We...