[News] Samsung Speeds up Humanoid Development to Offset Business Headwinds, Challenging Tech Giants

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According to a report from South Korean media outlet The Bell, Samsung Electronics is intensifying its focus on the robotics sector. As its core businesses, such as semiconductors and mobile devices, face reduced influence, the company is accelerating its efforts to identify and develop new growth drivers.

Samsung Advances Robotics Ambitions

As noted in the report, Samsung Electronics announced on December 31 that it had become the largest shareholder in Rainbow Robotics. In 2023, the company invested KRW 86.8 billion to acquire a 14.7% stake in Rainbow Robotics. By exercising a call option, Samsung increased its stake to 35.0%, elevating its position from the second-largest shareholder to the largest. Consequently, Rainbow Robotics will now be included as a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics.

Rainbow Robotics, founded in 2011 by researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST)’s Hubo Lab, is renowned for developing “Hubo,” South Korea’s first bipedal robot, according to the report.

Samsung plans to leverage its artificial intelligence (AI) and software (SW) capabilities with Rainbow Robotics’ expertise in robotics to initiate the development of advanced intelligent humanoid robots, as the report notes.

To bring this vision to fruition, Samsung Electronics has established the Future Robotics Initiative Team, which will operate under the DX Division. The report states that Samsung intends to integrate Rainbow Robotics’ collaborative robots, dual-arm robots, and autonomous mobile robots into its manufacturing and logistics automation processes.

Hyundai: Teaming Up with Toyota for Humanoid Development

With Samsung’s entry, a major showdown in the humanoid robot market is expected. In South Korea, Hyundai Motor Company stands out as a key competitor. As indicated by The Bell, Hyundai established an internal robotics team in 2018 and bolstered its presence in the humanoid market by acquiring Boston Dynamics in 2021.

According to a report from The Korean Economic Daily from October 2024, Hyundai and Toyota are collaborating through their affiliates to accelerate the development of humanoid robots equipped with AI, aiming to advance the creation of  “general-purpose humanoid robots.”

Tesla: Pioneering with “Optimus”

Tesla, the leader in electric vehicles, is also heavily invested in humanoids, currently developing one under the name “Optimus,” as the report from The Bell notes. As noted by a report from BBC, Tesla is set to have humanoid robots in low production for Tesla internal use in 2025 and high production for other companies in 2026.

NVIDIA: Compact Computers for Humanoid Robots Called Jetson Thor

Beyond initiatives by automotive companies, NVIDIA has recently announced its entry into the humanoid robotics industry. According to a report from Financial Times, NVIDIA plans to launch its next-generation compact computers for humanoid robots, known as Jetson Thor, in the first half of 2025.

The Financial Times report highlights that NVIDIA offers a complete solution, encompassing both software for training AI-powered robots and the chips that drive them.

Notably, the report points out that NVIDIA’s expansion into robotics comes as major cloud computing companies, such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, seek to reduce their reliance on the U.S. semiconductor giant.

In addition to NVIDIA, companies such as Amazon and Microsoft have also expressed interest in the humanoid robotics market, according to the report from The Bell.

TrendForce’s latest findings show that the global humanoid robot market is expected to surpass USD 2 billion in value by 2027, supported by major robotics manufacturers gradually achieving mass production by 2025. The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 154% between 2024 and 2027, with service-oriented robots benefiting significantly from advancements in generative AI, which further enhances market appeal.

Read more

• AI and Interactive Demand to Drive Humanoid Robot Market Value Beyond US$2 Billion by 2027, Says TrendForce
• [Selected Topics] Humanoid Robots Maturing, Market Set for Accelerated Expansion Starting in 2025

(Photo credit: Samsung)