Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are intensifying efforts to secure early positions in the humanoid robot market. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, March 10 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean tech powerhouses Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are intensifying efforts to secure early positions in the humanoid robot market through strategic investments, workforce realignment, and research and development initiatives.
Samsung recently deployed approximately 40 personnel from Samsung Research and related departments to its newly established Future Robot Task Force. The task force, which reports directly to Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman and co-CEO Han Jong-hee, was created following Samsung’s acquisition of a controlling stake in Rainbow Robotics, a robot platform specialist, in late 2024.
Led by Rainbow Robotics co-founder and KAIST Professor Emeritus Oh Jun-ho, the task force will spearhead Samsung’s future robotics technology development, particularly in humanoid robots. The company plans to accelerate intelligent humanoid development by combining its artificial intelligence and software capabilities with Rainbow Robotics’ expertise.
At CES 2025 in Las Vegas on January 7, Han indicated that Samsung’s humanoid robot plans were accelerating. “We’re investing to secure technological capabilities and proceeding step by step according to plan,” he said.
Samsung is also pursuing international investments through Samsung Next, its overseas investment arm, which has participated in funding rounds for robotics companies including Figure AI and 1X Technologies. The company received approval from South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission for its merger with Rainbow Robotics on March 5, potentially accelerating its humanoid robotics initiatives.
Meanwhile, LG Electronics is focusing its humanoid robot development on domestic applications. At CES 2025, LG Electronics CEO William Cho revealed that the company is “currently working on concepts for domestic robots and household humanoids.”
LG’s Advanced Robotics Laboratory is concentrating on securing early-stage humanoid technology, with CTO Kim Byoung-hoon expressing confidence in LG’s ability to quickly enter the household humanoid market if needed, noting intensive R&D preparation in humanoid technology.
LG is also strengthening its commercial robotics capabilities, having invested $60 million in Bear Robotics, an AI-based autonomous service robot startup, in March 2024. The company expects to complete Bear Robotics’ acquisition in the first half of 2025.
The humanoid robot market has attracted significant attention from global tech giants including Nvidia, Tesla, Google, and Meta. According to Goldman Sachs, the global humanoid robot market is projected to reach $38 billion by 2035.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
