Samsung Eyes Humanoid Robots with Stake in Boston Dynamics

Samsung might be considering investing in a stake in Boston Dynamics, a US robotics company. This move could allow the Korean firm to gain a foothold in the humanoid robot ecosystem. As of now, nothing has been confirmed, but industry watchers believe in that possibility.

Boston Dynamics gained attention amid speculations about Samsung’s investment in the robotics field

Boston Dynamics, a global leader in advanced robotics, develops mobile robots to tackle industry’s toughest challenges. Speaking of ownership structure, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun holds around 23% of Boston Dynamics. Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Hyundai Mobis jointly own about 56%. Hyundai Glovis controls roughly 11%, while SoftBank Group owns about 10%.

According to Korean media, Samsung has reviewed the feasibility of investing in Boston Dynamics. The company might be looking at SoftBank’s 10% stake in the robotics firm. However, the Korean giant has responded that the report is “groundless”, suggesting such a review is not taking place.

During the Q1 earnings conference call, Samsung said it is “continuously reviewing various mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and equity investment opportunities in future growth sectors, including robotics.” Since the company sees the robotics field as a future growth engine, the industry believes it is internally reviewing Boston Dynamics’s ownership structure.

The market watcher sees SoftBank as a possible seller. Note that the Japanese firm has not officially said it will sell its stake in Boston Dynamics. SoftBank recently raised substantial funds to expand its investments in global AI data centers. So, it would not be surprising if it sells a portion of its stake in Boston Dynamics in the future.

Samsung already has a solid presence in AI semiconductors, smartphones, and home appliances. However, the company does not have a humanoid robot platform. If the firm buys a stake in Boston Dynamics, this could allow it to connect AI semiconductors, on-device AI, and robotics. We’ll let you know if new developments regarding the stake purchase surface on the web.