Lee Jae-Yong Visits Samsung Robotics Forward Base

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong toured the company's robotics research and development site on October 27, coinciding with his 4th anniversary as chairman. This visit aimed to evaluate the technological advancements and commercialization plans for humanoid robots, seen as a vital growth engine for the company. The robotics business has been organized into a dedicated unit, with plans to apply robots in manufacturing, underlining the significance of Lee's in-person visit to the Robotics Experience business promotion office.

This office, established in July, is based at Samsung Electronics' Seoul R&D Campus in Umyeon-dong, Seoul.

Lee's first-ever personal visit to the organization since its inception was reported by industry insiders on October 27. He inspected the current status of next-generation robot technology development, including humanoid robots, and assessed preparations for their commercialization. The visit came precisely four years after Lee assumed the role of chairman on October 27, 2022.

The industry is closely watching Lee's visit, particularly considering it aligned with his inauguration anniversary. Following his election, Lee had stressed the need to invest in future technologies, saying, "We must invest in technologies that do not exist in the world, and our survival depends on future technologies." In July, Samsung Electronics set up the Robotics Experience business promotion office, under President Roh Tae-moon, to integrate scattered robotics research and development efforts and drive strategy, technology development, and commercialization.

Samsung Electronics has been bolstering its robotics capabilities by hiring key personnel and expanding its research infrastructure. The Umyeon-dong campus serves as a major hub for these efforts. The company recruited Executive Vice President Lee Dong-geon, formerly responsible for robotics strategy at Hyundai Motor Group, to develop a mid-to-long-term business roadmap.

Experts from Seoul National University and Ajou University, specializing in robot control and robot hand manipulation technology, respectively, have also joined the team.

At the Gumi plant in North Gyeongsang Province, Samsung Electronics is constructing a 'data factory' to gather robot learning data. The company is also establishing research centers in the United States, China, and Japan to enhance its technological foundation. Samsung's plan is to initially deploy robots in manufacturing sites to test their performance and reliability, subsequently expanding their applications to industrial and domestic sectors.

The goal is to transform domestic and overseas production plants into AI-based autonomous factories by 2030. Samsung Electronics recently increased its stake in Rainbow Robotics to 35%, making it the largest shareholder. The company aims to leverage Rainbow Robotics' robotics technology alongside its own AI and software capabilities to strengthen its competitive edge.

Lee's visit to the Robotics Experience business promotion office has sparked speculation that Samsung Electronics might unveil its humanoid robot at CES 2027, the world's largest consumer electronics and IT exhibition in Las Vegas in January 2027. The company is focusing on developing humanoids suitable for manufacturing sites, with precision hand manipulation technology seen as crucial for commercialization.

Lab Director Chris Hauser of the Robotics Experience business promotion office indicated plans to expand the business scope from industrial robots to domestic and service robots at the 'Samsung AI Forum 2026' last month. Hauser emphasized the need for robots to achieve a 99.99% task success rate in general-purpose applications, noting that significant innovations are required to achieve reliable robots.