Strengthening its foothold in AI-powered robotics, Samsung paves the way for advanced humanoid innovations.

Samsung Electronics, led by South Korean billionaire Jay Y. Lee, is solidifying its position in the rapidly growing field of humanoid robotics. The tech giant announced plans to increase its stake in Kosdaq-listed Rainbow Robotics, based in Daejeon, South Korea, from 14.7% to 35%. The investment, valued at over 267 billion won (approximately $180 million), will make Samsung the largest shareholder. The deal is expected to close on February 17, pending government approval.

Rainbow Robotics, founded in 2011 by researchers from the Humanoid Robot Research Center at KAIST, is renowned for developing South Korea’s first bipedal robot, Hubo, in 2005. Its current largest shareholder, co-founder Oh Jun-ho, will see his stake reduced from 17.37% to 7.78% after the deal.

With this move, Rainbow Robotics will become a subsidiary of Samsung, and its financials will integrate with Samsung’s earnings. Samsung aims to combine its advanced AI and software expertise with Rainbow Robotics’ innovative robotics technology to accelerate the development of intelligent humanoid robots.

The collaboration will leverage Rainbow Robotics’ expertise in collaborative robots, dual-arm mobile manipulators, and autonomous robots for manufacturing and logistics. Samsung emphasized that these robots, powered by AI algorithms, will adapt to real-world environments and boost operational efficiency.

This strategic investment highlights Samsung’s commitment to the robotics industry, joining other South Korean giants like Hyundai Motor and Doosan Robotics, which are also advancing their capabilities in AI-powered robotics.