Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are set to enter the robotics market this year, expanding their focus beyond AI appliances. Samsung is driving innovation through organizational changes and talent acquisition to extend its reach from B2B to B2C sales. On the other hand, LG Electronics is elevating its robot offerings with AI technology.
Industry insiders reveal that Samsung has finished developing and mass-producing its first wearable robot, Bot Fit, scheduled for launch in the third quarter. Bot Fit aims to assist individuals with mobility challenges and boost physical activity. Samsung has been testing Bot Fit prototypes in senior communities and plans to enter the B2C market soon.
To strengthen its robotics division, Samsung restructured its organization by disbanding the Robot Business Team within the Device eXperience Division and reallocating R&D staff under the chief technology officer. A Samsung spokesperson stated, ‘The R&D team has completed Bot Fit’s development and is gearing up for the next phase. The reorganization is geared towards enhancing our robotics business.’
Moreover, Samsung brought in Cho Hye-kyung, a robotics expert and applied AI professor at Hansung University, as a new external director. The company also recruited former Nvidia engineer Kwon Jung-hyun as an executive last year, further boosting its robotics expertise.
Samsung is working on advanced humanoid robots, a project that has piqued the interest of Chairman Lee Jae-yong. The companion robot Ballie, initially showcased as a prototype at CES 2020 and now presented as a commercial-ready model at CES 2024, is anticipated to hit the market this year after recent trademark filings.
LG Electronics will unveil its service robot CLOi, now powered by Google’s generative AI model Gemini, at the upcoming Google Cloud Summit on June 27. The collaboration between the two companies, ongoing since last year, is expected to result in a potential market release in the latter half of this year. Experts predict that CLOi, integrated with Gemini, will showcase enhanced communication capabilities, surpassing human experts.
