As the United States and China advance in physical artificial intelligence (AI), experts agree that South Korea must actively leverage its existing industrial assets to develop physical AI technologies and utilize competitive manufacturing test beds to lead in validation and commercialization.
According to industry sources on May 17, both the U.S. and China are focusing on the potential of physical AI to counteract declining manufacturing competitiveness due to high labor costs and low birth rates, consolidating national resources for technology development and commercialization.
Reports from Japan's Nikkei Business and the U.S. Nexis Lexis estimate that South Korea ranks third in physical AI competitiveness, significantly behind the U.S. and China. While it possesses independent humanoid robot technology that is commercially viable and maintains strong competitiveness in industrial robotics, it lacks the extensive physical AI platforms of the U.S. and China and faces fierce competition from Japan, which has overwhelming industrial robot capabilities.
The U.S. leads the market with major tech companies like NVIDIA, Tesla, Figure AI, and Amazon, while firms like Google and Microsoft, which previously focused on language model-based AI, have accelerated their research and development in physical AI and robotics since last year.
In China, companies such as Baidu, Huawei, and Tencent ranked first to third in global physical AI patent applications last year, while startups like Unitree, Agibot, and Ubitech are commercializing various forms of robots, including humanoids, supporting the industrial ecosystem.
In South Korea, companies like Boston Dynamics (Hyundai Motor), Rainbow Robotics (Samsung Electronics), LG Electronics (LG AI Research), HD Hyundai Robotics, Hanwha Robotics, and Doosan Robotics are investing heavily in physical AI development to enhance global competitiveness.
The Software Policy Research Institute (SPRi) classifies physical AI into four categories: humanoids, autonomous vehicles, drones, and AGVs & AMRs (collaborative and mobile robots). Among these, humanoids have the advantage of being able to work alongside humans or replace them directly in labor settings, unlike other physical AI that requires dedicated robotic spaces.
Morgan Stanley predicts that humanoids based on physical AI will expand beyond manufacturing and logistics into services and homes, forecasting that the related market will grow at an annual rate of 63%, reaching $38 billion (approximately 57 trillion won) by 2035.
SPRi and the Korea Intelligent Information Society Agency view South Korea as having the potential to stand shoulder to shoulder with leading countries like the U.S. and China in the physical AI industry. The country boasts world-class manufacturing facilities in sectors like semiconductors, automotive, and shipbuilding, enabling the real-time collection and refinement of vast and precise data for robotic learning. Hyundai and Kia are accelerating the commercialization of unmanned factories utilizing Boston Dynamics' humanoid Atlas, a level of advancement achieved only by Hyundai and Tesla.
Unlike generative AI, which requires high intelligence for white-collar job replacement, physical AI relies on cognitive AI technologies to accurately assess and respond to on-site conditions. Advanced sensor technology is crucial for this purpose. The LG Group is consolidating its capabilities in sensor technology for physical AI through collaboration among LG Electronics, LG Innotek, and LG CNS. The focus is on equipping robots with cameras and LiDAR sensors to analyze data, enabling AI to make optimal decisions.
To achieve precise movements similar to humans, humanoids require a large number of servo motors. Servo motors are ultra-precise motors capable of controlling position, speed, and acceleration according to AI commands. While this field is primarily led by Japanese materials, components, and equipment manufacturers, many South Korean companies, led by LS Electronics, are also accelerating their efforts to secure competitiveness in this area.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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