Samsung's robotics push spilled into South Korean equities, lifting robot-related shares including Rainbow Robotics and Doosan Robotics in early trading.
Samsung Electronics shares rose 6.76% after the company said it is creating RX, short for Robotics eXperience, a new division meant to unify its robotics capabilities and steer strategy from core technology development through commercialization. CEO TM Roh will directly oversee the unit, which also plans to establish research bases in the U.S., China and Japan. The move underscores Samsung's broader push into physical AI, or AI systems embodied in machines. Earlier this month, Roh said at a public briefing in Jinju that Samsung Electronics plans to invest around 60 trillion won ($40.7 billion) in the Yeongnam region, including its Gumi site. The company had also raised its stake in Rainbow Robotics in late 2024 to become the largest shareholder. Of the planned regional investment, 19 trillion won is earmarked for Gumi, in partnership with Samsung SDS, to build physical AI infrastructure and humanoid robot manufacturing facilities. On the 22nd, Samsung's robotics drive also lifted South Korean robot-related stocks in early trade, with Rainbow Robotics up 22.72%, Doosan Robotics 12.68%, RobotiZ 15.48%, Neuromeka 10.17% and Robotstar 16.64% by 9:22 a.m. local time, while Cosmo Robotics and TXR Robotics hit their daily limits. The benchmark Kospi index was up about 4%.