POSCO Holdings Inc.’s PKX subsidiary, POSCO DX, has partnered with NC AI to develop a Physical AI-based industrial robot foundation model jointly.
The collaboration aims to create next-generation autonomous industrial robots capable of understanding their environments, making decisions independently and performing complex tasks in dynamic manufacturing settings.
The companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on May 29, 2026, to combine their respective expertise in robotics and artificial intelligence.
The centerpiece of the collaboration is the development of a robot foundation model, a general-purpose AI system that functions as the “brain” of industrial robots. The new model aims to enable robots to understand their surroundings, make decisions independently and adapt to changing workplace conditions.
POSCO will contribute its expertise in robot motion planning, control systems and simulation technologies. The company will also build a digital twin-based virtual testing environment, allowing robots to be trained and validated in a realistic digital replica of industrial facilities before deployment. This approach is expected to improve reliability, safety and operational efficiency.
NC AI will develop the core AI models for the robot foundation model, leveraging large volumes of industrial data to build advanced Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models. These models will enable robots to understand visual information, interpret human instructions and convert them into physical actions. The companies will also work together on VLA optimization, robot intelligence validation and safety technologies.
The Physical AI technology is designed to help robots operate autonomously in dynamic industrial environments. Robots powered by the foundation model will be able to adapt to changing conditions, respond to unexpected situations and perform complex tasks that are difficult for traditional automation systems.
The project supports POSCO Group’s strategy to expand AI-driven automation and improve workplace safety. By combining robotics, digital twins and Physical AI, POSCO DX and NC AI aim to develop a scalable robot intelligence platform for deployment across various industries.
Shares of PKX have gained 39.8% in the past year against the industry’s 5.3% decline.
Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
PKX Zacks Rank & Key Picks
PKX currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).