The Emergence of Physical AI: Robots Begin to Work 'Like Humans' | Han Jae-kwon, Professor of Robotics at Hanyang University and CTO of A-Robot

피지컬 AI의 등장… 로봇이 ‘사람처럼’ 일하기 시작했다 | 한재권 한양대학교 로봇공학과 교수·에이로봇 CTO [심층 인터뷰]
Watch on YouTube ↗  |  January 15, 2026 at 10:21  |  57:07  |  3PRO TV (삼프로TV)
Speakers
Han Jae-kwon — Professor, Hanyang University Department of Robotics; CTO, A-Robot

Summary

Han Jae-kwon, a Hanyang University robotics professor and A-Robot CTO, discusses CES 2026 as a turning point for physical AI and humanoid robots. He argues the industry is moving from performance demos to commercialization, with industrial and caregiving tasks likely to adopt first. The interview covers Korea's robot ecosystem, China's volume advantage, U.S. leadership in robot foundation models, and key platforms from Hyundai, LG, and Tesla. It also highlights battery advances, sovereign AI, and emotional companion robots as important enablers.

  • CES 2026 highlighted physical AI and humanoid robots moving from demos toward paid use cases.
  • A Korean professor described ten Korean robot firms exhibiting together with a full component and complete-robot ecosystem.
  • China showed scale with many humanoid models and companies, but its robot foundation-model and demand picture remains less clear.
  • Near-term deployment is seen first in industrial, dangerous, repetitive jobs and later in caregiving and home settings.
  • Hyundai's Atlas, LG's CLOiD, and Tesla's Optimus were discussed as key humanoid platforms.
  • Robot foundation models, sovereign AI, and battery technology were identified as critical enablers.
  • Emotional and companion robotics were highlighted as a potentially large consumer market.
Ideas
Han Jae-kwon Professor, Hanyang University Department of Robotics; CTO, A-Robot 2:28
Humanoid robots shift from demos to commercialization.
CES 2026 marked an inflection point for humanoid robots: the industry is shifting from performance demonstrations to commercialization, with companies that clearly define paid use cases and ROI likely to lead. The key question is no longer what a robot can do, but how it will be deployed and monetized.
Humanoid robotics Physical AI HIGH
Han Jae-kwon Professor, Hanyang University Department of Robotics; CTO, A-Robot 6:42
Hyundai's Atlas leads humanoid commercialization.
Hyundai Motor's Boston Dynamics Atlas was the standout humanoid at CES, and its Google DeepMind partnership gives it access to top robot foundation models. Mass-production Atlas and planned deployment in Hyundai's U.S. Metaplant could make Hyundai a leading commercializer of humanoid robots.
005380.KS HIGH
Han Jae-kwon Professor, Hanyang University Department of Robotics; CTO, A-Robot 7:09
LG's CLOiD targets home humanoid market.
LG Electronics' CLOiD wheeled humanoid showed a safer, height-adjustable design that could make robots acceptable in homes, fitting LG's 'next appliance is humanoid' strategy. The home adoption timetable remains uncertain, but the strategic positioning is strong.
066570.KS MED
Han Jae-kwon Professor, Hanyang University Department of Robotics; CTO, A-Robot 11:18
Korean humanoid robot ecosystem has trust advantage.
Korea showed a full humanoid robot ecosystem at CES, with ten companies spanning complete robots and components such as hands, sensors, and actuators, backed by government support. Buyers viewed Korea as a more trusted and secure supplier than China, especially for factory robots that need inside access and data security.
Korean humanoid robotics HIGH
Han Jae-kwon Professor, Hanyang University Department of Robotics; CTO, A-Robot 26:22
Industrial humanoids first for dangerous, repetitive work.
Industrial settings will adopt humanoid robots first because factories are controlled B2B environments where liability, insurance, and contracts can be defined. The strongest near-term demand is for dangerous, dirty, and repetitive work where labor is scarce and wages are high, improving robot ROI.
Industrial humanoid robots HIGH
Han Jae-kwon Professor, Hanyang University Department of Robotics; CTO, A-Robot 29:09
Caregiving robots fill severe labor shortages.
Caregiving and service work face severe labor shortages and high wage costs, so humanoid robots can enter as assistants alongside human caregivers. Task division in nursing homes, such as delivering medicine or performing timed tasks, can create clear ROI before full replacement is possible.
Caregiving robotics HIGH
Han Jae-kwon Professor, Hanyang University Department of Robotics; CTO, A-Robot 33:11
Battery advances enable humanoid robot commercialization.
Humanoid robots need much better batteries to operate 24 hours and handle harsh environments. Battery swapping is an interim fix, but waterproof, dustproof, and sealed designs ultimately depend on advances in the battery industry, making batteries a key enabler for humanoid commercialization.
LIT MED
Han Jae-kwon Professor, Hanyang University Department of Robotics; CTO, A-Robot 35:12
Google DeepMind leads restricted robot foundation models.
U.S. big tech, especially Google DeepMind, currently leads robot foundation models, and access is restricted to a few partners. Google DeepMind's partnership with Hyundai and Boston Dynamics validates that leadership and creates an edge for select robot developers.
GOOGL MED
Han Jae-kwon Professor, Hanyang University Department of Robotics; CTO, A-Robot 35:48
Korea must internalize robot foundation models.
Robot foundation models are the next step after LLMs and are becoming a sovereignty issue. Korea should internalize robot foundation models so defense and industrial robots do not depend on U.S. software; the speaker believes Korea can catch up given its fast LLM progress.
AI-SECTOR HIGH
Han Jae-kwon Professor, Hanyang University Department of Robotics; CTO, A-Robot 38:12
Tesla Optimus advances toward mass production.
Tesla's Optimus is in the leading group of humanoid robots, and Tesla has shown a mass-production prototype while reducing cost. Its closed development limits external evaluation, but further mass-production unveilings could reinforce its position.
TSLA MED
Han Jae-kwon Professor, Hanyang University Department of Robotics; CTO, A-Robot 55:25
Emotional companion robots have large market.
Emotional and companion robots represent a large market because many successful consumer devices and services sell emotional satisfaction. Robots that can touch human emotions are likely to succeed, creating a distinct consumer robotics opportunity.
Companion robotics MED
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This 3PRO TV (삼프로TV) video, published January 15, 2026, features Han Jae-kwon discussing Humanoid robotics, Physical AI, 005380.KS, 066570.KS, Korean humanoid robotics, Industrial humanoid robots, Caregiving robotics, LIT, GOOGL, AI-SECTOR, TSLA, Companion robotics. 11 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Han Jae-kwon  · Tickers: Humanoid robotics, Physical AI, 005380.KS, 066570.KS, Korean humanoid robotics, Industrial humanoid robots, Caregiving robotics, LIT, GOOGL, AI-SECTOR, TSLA, Companion robotics