Post by : Shakul

South Korea is rapidly moving toward becoming a major global center for artificial intelligence-powered robotics. A South Korean startup named RLWRLD is gaining international attention for developing advanced AI systems that learn directly from skilled human workers. The company is collecting detailed movement data from hotel staff, warehouse workers, and retail employees to train humanoid robots capable of performing real-world tasks with human-like precision.

At the Lotte Hotel in Seoul, experienced staff members are wearing body cameras and motion-tracking devices while performing their daily duties. One worker, David Park, demonstrated how he carefully folds banquet napkins, cleans glasses, and prepares dining areas. Every hand movement, grip, and body action is recorded and converted into machine-readable data that will eventually help robots copy these exact skills.

RLWRLD is also gathering data from logistics workers at CJ warehouses and employees at Japanese convenience store chain Lawson. The company studies how workers carry packages, arrange products, and handle delicate items. Engineers believe these real-life actions are necessary for developing “physical AI,” a new generation of robots designed to move, think, and react independently in real environments instead of only performing repetitive factory tasks.

The company’s main focus is creating humanoid robots with highly advanced five-fingered hands that can closely imitate human touch and movement. According to RLWRLD executives, mastering hand movements is one of the biggest challenges in robotics. Engineers are using virtual reality headsets, motion-tracking gloves, and body sensors to capture even the smallest details such as finger pressure, wrist angles, and lifting force.

South Korea sees physical AI as an important national industry for the future. The country is investing heavily in robotics and artificial intelligence as it faces an aging population and labor shortages. The South Korean government recently launched a major project to preserve the skills and techniques of experienced workers in digital databases that can later train AI systems and industrial robots.

Major Korean companies are also preparing for large-scale robot deployment. Hyundai Motor plans to introduce humanoid robots built by Boston Dynamics at global factories starting in 2028, while Samsung Electronics aims to convert manufacturing sites into AI-driven factories by 2030. Experts believe these technologies could transform industries such as manufacturing, hospitality, logistics, and healthcare.

However, the rapid growth of AI robotics has also raised concerns among labor unions and workers. Some fear robots could replace human jobs and weaken traditional skilled labor industries. Labor groups in South Korea are calling for discussions between companies, governments, and workers to ensure AI development does not negatively impact employment opportunities.

Despite these concerns, robotics experts believe human interaction will still remain important in many sectors. Hospitality worker David Park explained that while robots may eventually help with cleaning and preparation work, they cannot fully replace genuine human communication and service experiences.

RLWRLD expects industrial AI robots to begin large-scale deployment around 2028. The company also hopes that in the future humanoid robots could assist inside homes by helping elderly people, handling household tasks, and performing daily support activities safely and efficiently.

#Technology #South Korea #AI Skills