Industry ministry, Army and Hyundai Motor Group sign AI robotics pact

The industry ministry said Friday it had signed an agreement with the Army and Hyundai Motor Group to accelerate defense uses of physical AI and robots by quickly testing civilian technology for potential military deployment.

Lee Min-woo, acting head of the ministry's Industrial Growth Office, Lt. Gen. Choi Jang-sik, the Army's vice chief of staff, and Lee Hang-soo, a Hyundai Motor Group vice president for policy support, signed the agreement Aug. 14 at Gyeryongdae in South Chungcheong Province. The agreement establishes a framework for the military to test advanced physical AI from private companies and link trials to actual military capability. Cooperation will center on research and development, field tests and wider use of robots in surveillance, reconnaissance and logistics. The partners will also seek ways to reduce hazardous or repetitive support duties for service members.

The ministry will support defense robotics development and demonstrations and connect robot companies with military demand, while Hyundai Motor Group will provide personnel and technology for development, trials and joint research. Hyundai will also use feedback from service members gathered during demonstrations to improve performance and usability. "This agreement will provide a foundation for cooperation among the private sector, government and military to apply physical AI and advanced technologies in defense," a Hyundai Motor Group representative said.

The Army will provide field units and educational institutions as testbeds and support stable trial operations. The ministry said it has supported demonstrations of patrol, cleaning, cooking and logistics robots and plans with its partners to expand robot testing and deployment in patrol and guard duties.

"For physical AI to translate into practical combat power, it is important to rapidly test advanced technologies in the field and reflect the results in technology development and policy," Choi Jang-sik, the Army's vice chief of staff, said.

"The government will promote domestic robot mass production by creating public demand in defense, policing and disaster response. We will work closely with the military so that results from defense trials lead to actual product purchases and military deployment," Lee Min-woo said.