The domestic physical artificial intelligence (AI) market is rapidly expanding into industrial sectors. While generative AI has primarily focused on text and image creation, physical AI is recognized as a key component of the next-generation AI market due to its ability to perceive real-world environments and make autonomous decisions.
According to a report released on June 1 by the Nalji Research Group, the domestic physical AI market is projected to reach approximately 6.419 trillion won this year. In South Korea's manufacturing-centric industrial structure, collaborative robots, humanoids, and autonomous robots are expected to drive the commercialization of physical AI.
The market is also experiencing rapid growth. According to Samil PwC, the related market is expected to grow from $7 billion (about 10.5 trillion won) in 2025 to $23 billion (approximately 34.8 trillion won) by 2030. During the same period, the humanoid market is anticipated to expand from $6 billion to $46 billion. The annual growth rates are projected at 32.7% and 52.1%, significantly outpacing the existing industrial robot market's growth rate of 1.8%.
Among domestic physical AI startups, Neuromeka and Mind AI are considered leaders. Neuromeka has shown strength in automating industrial sites with collaborative robots, while Mind AI has secured core software competitiveness in physical AI based on AI agents and world model technology.
Neuromeka is a domestic startup that provides both collaborative robots and automation solutions. Its competitive edge lies in its ability to offer system solutions tailored to client processes, going beyond simple robot manufacturing.
Last year, the company supplied collaborative robot solutions to Kyochon Chicken and is currently promoting collaborative robot-based automation projects in manufacturing sites, including POSCO. It is particularly gaining traction in the shipbuilding industry's specialized welding sector.
A flagship product is the OPTi-5, a cart-type welding robot supplied to HD Hyundai Robotics and applied at the HD Hyundai Samho shipyard. The OPTi-5 features sensor-based welding seam tracking technology that corrects welding path errors in real-time, along with automatic seam recognition technology utilizing 3D cameras and touch sensors.
Building on this, Neuromeka is preparing to enter the humanoid market. A company representative stated, "We are currently undergoing KCs autonomous safety confirmation for our existing robot product lines, including the collaborative robots 'Indy' and 'NURI.' We aim to complete certification by July, and once finished, we will secure a legal safety framework for large-scale deployment of robots in manufacturing and industrial sites, leading to full-scale commercialization and orders."
Mind AI develops AI agents and physical AI solutions. Founded in 2014, it was listed on the KOSDAQ in 2021.
Recently, it was selected as a participating organization in a national project supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP). The company is focusing on enhancing autonomous driving and robot control solutions as part of the 'Development of World Foundation Model Technology for Physical AI Model Training' project led by LG Electronics.
Mind AI's core strengths lie in its multimodal AI technology, which integrates sensory data such as vision and hearing, and its world model technology that learns the physical laws of the real world. This enables the software to assist robots in understanding complex industrial environments in real-time and responding to variables.
An industry insider noted, "While the initial physical AI market focused on implementing movements in robot hardware, the success of the future will depend on the sophistication of AI software that acts as the brain. The organic integration of hardware and software will be a key challenge for market establishment."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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