South Korean Startups Designing AI Chips As Humanoid Robotics Industry Advances

South Korean startups are increasingly focusing on designing artificial intelligence (AI) chips to capitalize on the rapidly growing global market for AI computing. These "fabless" companies, which do not own production facilities, are receiving support from Samsung Electronics and the government.

Meanwhile, the humanoid robotics industry is entering a new phase with pilot testing in various sectors. Apptronik, a University of Austin spinout, is collaborating with Mercedes-Benz to identify applications for advanced robotics in car manufacturing. The robots will be used to automate low-skill, physically demanding manual labor tasks, such as moving totes from one point to another.

In India, the government has revised its AI advisory after facing criticism from entrepreneurs and investors. The updated guidelines no longer require government approval before launching or deploying an AI model, but firms are advised to label under-tested and unreliable AI models to inform users of potential issues. The revised advisory emphasizes ensuring that deepfakes and misinformation are identifiable, but no longer requires firms to identify the "originator" of a message.

Lastly, Motional, an autonomous vehicle technology startup, has secured a bridge loan to provide temporary financial relief as the company searches for a longer-term funding source. The company has taken measures to reduce costs, including cutting about 5% of its workforce. Motional operates an autonomous vehicle taxi service in Las Vegas and has an autonomous delivery pilot in Santa Monica, California. With Aptiv as the sole backer, Motional will need to find external investors or have Hyundai fully fund the effort.