LG Electronics has been involved in robotics for some time, offering service robots such as the LG CLOi ServeBot and GuideBot. These robots are primarily wheeled robots with limited mobility and dexterity.
With its latest announcement at CES 25, the South Korean giant is poised to compete with out-of-town rivals like Hyundai Motor Group and Samsung Electronics, which have invested heavily in developing humanoid robots. The company says these bipedal AI robots are designed to resemble humans and are meant to collaborate with humans to increase productivity.
Bipedal AI robot aiming to improve human productivity
LG Electronics CEO Cho Joo-wan emphasized at the CES 2025 press event in Las Vegas that robots are the future of humanity. He emphasized that the company is focusing on developing humanoid robots for home use and is positioned at the center of the robot competition.
The company plans to release the AI agent, codenamed Q9, later this year after a beta test in February and March, and Q9 will serve as the basic model for the company’s humanoid robots, according to the Korea Economic Newspaper. Reported.
Kim Byung-hoon, vice president and chief technology officer of LG Electronics, said that the company will build on the cognitive and joint technologies used in the 9th quarter to develop humanoid robots such as hand gestures and walking. He explained that he is researching technologies essential to the development of
Earlier this week, LG Electronics announced a strategic partnership with Microsoft to combine technologies from both companies to advance AI innovation. The two companies will collaborate on the development of AI agents, including Q9, for use in homes, cars, hotels and offices.
Humanoid robot competition intensifies
The company is considering offering AI Agent Q9 as a subscription service or integrating it with its AI smart home platform LG ThinQ, which will be launched in South Korea in September, to make it more accessible to users. There is.
The global race for humanoid robots is heating up, with tech giants such as Tesla entering the field. Last year, Tesla announced its second-generation humanoid robot, Optimus, and plans to commercially roll it out this year. Other companies, including Honda Motor Co. and Hyundai Motor Co.’s Boston Dynamics, are also actively developing their own humanoid robots.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been instrumental in developing the Optimus robot program and has said he envisions a future in which these humanoid machines will transform a variety of industries. More than 1,000 robots are expected to be integrated into Tesla’s manufacturing by 2025, and Musk predicts Optimus could help the company reach a $25 trillion valuation.
Tesla expects to make significant profits because the production cost is $10,000 and each car costs about $20,000. Musk predicts that the global market will reach 1 billion robots per year, with Tesla capturing 10% of that market. Optimus has already demonstrated the ability to operate autonomously and perform dexterous tasks, and full software is expected to be ready by 2026.
