Korean AI company NC AI has formed a consortium with LG Electronics and been selected as an implementing organization in the humanoid category of South Korea’s K-On-Device Artificial Intelligence Semiconductor Technology Development Project. The program is led by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources and the Korea Planning & Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology. It aims to develop autonomous humanoid technology capable of performing tasks in complex everyday environments using domestically developed on-device AI semiconductors, integrating robot hardware, training data, AI models, and Korean AI chips into a single development framework.
On-device AI processes data locally without relying on external servers, reducing latency and dependence on cloud infrastructure. The consortium plans to jointly develop high-performance, low-power AI semiconductors and robot control technologies to enable real-time humanoid motion control in physical environments. Target use cases begin with general-purpose humanoids capable of organizing and transporting objects, serving, and handling tools in unstructured settings such as homes, with planned expansion into industrial and public-sector applications including manufacturing and logistics support, disaster response, facility inspections, and hazardous area operations.
NC AI’s role in the consortium centers on training data and motion translation. The company will build initial training data for learning-based general-purpose motion tracking and develop a human-to-robot retargeting pipeline. Human-to-robot retargeting converts human movements into motions that a humanoid can physically execute, accounting for differences in body proportions, joint structures, joint limits, foot support, and balance requirements. NC AI plans to use its existing motion data and animation production tools to convert diverse human task movements into training data, alongside digital twin environments that generate large-scale motion datasets from virtual task scenarios rather than physical data collection. The company also plans to combine this with its world model technology to advance motion control so robots can predict changes in surroundings, make independent multi-step decisions, and execute tasks sequentially.
The consortium reflects South Korea’s broader strategy of building integrated humanoid capability across domestic hardware, software, and chip supply chains rather than relying on imported components. It complements recent activity across Korean industry, including LG Group affiliates gaining investor attention over robotics expansion, GS E&C’s construction robotics partnership with Daedong Robotics, and Doosan Robotics’ European expansion. NC AI is expanding its physical AI business around world models and robot foundation models, and the project positions the company across motion data development, humanoid control, environmental perception, and autonomous decision-making. Whether the Korean on-device AI semiconductor approach can compete on cost, performance, and iteration speed with the more established international humanoid stack will determine how effectively the domestic ecosystem scales beyond government-backed pilots.
Disclaimer: RobotsBeat is an independent media brand owned and operated by NuvexMedia LLC, publishing news, research, and insights on artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, automation, and related industries. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with companies across the AI, Robotics, technology, software, and digital innovation sectors. These relationships do not influence RobotsBeat's editorial coverage, and the publication maintains full editorial independence to provide accurate, timely, and objective information. © 2026 NuvexMedia LLC. All rights reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or other professional advice.
