Persona AI deploys humanoids in Korean heavy industry

Persona AI Targets Korean Heavy Industry

Houston-based robotics firm Persona AI is deploying humanoid robots into South Korea's heavy industrial sectors. The company has formed alliances with industrial giants HD Hyundai and Posco. This initiative aims to address acute labour shortages within shipbuilding and steelmaking.

Michael Perry, Persona AI's head of commercial strategy, stated that humanoids offer significant economic value in hazardous, complex environments where traditional automation has limitations. South Korea presents an ideal market, combining high industrial demand with advanced digital and AI capabilities for large-scale robot deployment.

Shipbuilding Robot Trials Underway

Persona AI is collaborating with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and HD Hyundai Robotics. A bipedal humanoid prototype is scheduled for deployment this year, 2026. The initial test will verify the robot's ability to move through unstructured shipyards, operate a standard welding torch, and produce consistent welds matching production standards.

Field testing in 2027 will advance the robot's capabilities to autonomous walking, integrated with human teleoperation. This allows workers to provide instructions for improved work and safety.

Posco Invests in Steelmaking Humanoids

Posco has also established strategic ties with Persona AI, investing $3 million as an equity shareholder. This investment supports the integration of industrial humanoids into steel manufacturing and logistics. The two companies are conducting a proof-of-concept project. This project explores how multiple robots can collaborate using specialised rigging tools.

Their goal is to transport 20- to 40-tonne steel coils across designated sites. Persona AI also expressed interest in future collaborations with Hyundai Steel, particularly regarding its new electric arc mill project in Louisiana.

Asia's Industrial Labour Challenge

The deployment of humanoids by Persona AI in South Korea directly addresses the region's pressing industrial labour shortages. Such automation can drive operational efficiency, potentially enabling companies to expand and create more jobs.

Michael Perry emphasised that companies must demonstrate humanoids as collaborative tools, working alongside people rather than replacing them. This approach helps secure industry acceptance and broader adoption across Asian manufacturing sectors.

The firm is also exploring various battery chemistries, including high-nickel and lithium iron phosphate (LFP), to balance endurance and power demands for these industrial applications.