Intel is accelerating its efforts to capture the physical AI (artificial intelligence) market by partnering with Korean manufacturers. The company is collaborating with several domestic manufacturers on the development of robotic automation technologies and has also explored potential cooperation with the South Korean government. As NVIDIA moves to expand its related ecosystem, Intel is leveraging an open platform and cost competitiveness as key strengths.
John Healey, Vice President and General Manager of Intel's Industry & Robotics division, stated at a press briefing for the "Intel Robotics Workshop" held on the 14th at the JW Marriott Hotel in Seocho-gu, Seoul: "We have very close relationships with several Korean manufacturers. We are supporting them to optimize automation by utilizing advanced physical AI in manufacturing and precision engineering."
The names of the partner companies were not disclosed. He said, "While we cannot reveal company names at this time, we are collaborating across a broad and diverse range of fields," adding, "As collaborations progress, we will be able to share specific details." Separately, domestic companies such as Movensys, One AI, and Circulus showcased robotic solutions utilizing Intel technology at the event venue that day.
He also emphasized Korea's role. Vice President Healey stated, "Korea has a long history in innovation and precision engineering. This is very important for the development of physical AI," evaluating that "innovations created in Korea can deliver value in other markets around the world."
Having attended the "Physical AI Alliance Day" held at COEX in Seoul the previous day, he responded regarding discussions with South Korean government officials: "We strongly support government-led technology and industrial development policies." He added, "Our market approach aligns very well with the government's direction. We exchanged views on where we can cooperate in the policies being promoted by the government." Specific projects were not disclosed.
Vice President Healey stated, "Physical AI is like the moment steam institutional investor appeared during the Industrial Revolution," saying, "If we bring computing and AI closer to the actual physical world, its potential applications are limited only by our imagination."
However, he viewed on-site implementation as falling short of expectations. He explained, "In a recent survey, more than two-thirds of respondents expected to adopt robots within five years, but only 40% had strategies for operating robots alongside humans," adding, "Our role is to bridge this gap by ensuring that technologies proven in laboratories can adapt to real-world environments."
Intel positions its "Core Ultra Series 3," which integrates a CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), and NPU (Neural Processing Unit), as a platform for robots. Vice President Healey emphasized the advantages of a single chip, stating, "It is not just about the inference performance of AI models. Robots must be capable of real-time control and ensure functional safety."
Intel has positioned an open ecosystem that allows users to utilize various AI models and software without being dependent on specific companies' technologies as a competitive strength. As for software, it presented "Physical AI Studio," which supports data collection and model fine-tuning, and "OpenVINO Physical AI," which integrates models into robot control functions and other areas. He said, "It must be possible to learn and simulate anywhere. The goal of Intel-based solutions is to enable fast and easy deployment."
in TECH
