Samsung shares rise after company sets up robotics unit

Samsung Electronics shares climbed Tuesday after the company said it is creating a dedicated robotics organization, a sign that the tech giant wants a bigger role in AI-powered machines. For retail investors, the move puts another growth idea on the table beyond Samsung’s core electronics and semiconductor businesses.

The new group is called RX, short for Robotics eXperience, according to a Samsung statement. The company said the office will bring together its robotics capabilities and support a mid- to long-term plan that runs from core technology development to selling products commercially.

Samsung Chief Executive TM Roh will oversee the new entity directly, the company said. That detail matters because direct CEO oversight can signal that a project has moved from a side effort to a more central corporate priority.

Samsung shares rose 6.76%, while South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index was up about 4%, CNBC reported.

Samsung adds structure to its robotics push

The announcement highlights Samsung’s push into what it calls physical AI. In plain terms, that refers to artificial intelligence tied to machines that can operate in the real world, such as robots and automated manufacturing systems, rather than software that only lives on a screen.

Samsung said the RX office is meant to connect research with commercialization. Commercialization means turning a technology into products or services that customers can buy, which is the step investors watch closely when companies spend heavily on new technology areas.

The company did not announce specific revenue targets, profit goals or launch dates for robotics products in the statement. That leaves investors with a strategic signal rather than a detailed financial roadmap.

Investment plans point to humanoid robots

The robotics office follows other moves by Samsung in the field. Earlier this month, Roh said at a public briefing in Jinju that Samsung Electronics plans to invest about 60 trillion won, or $40.7 billion, in South Korea’s Yeongnam region, which includes its Gumi site.

Of that planned total, 19 trillion won is set aside for Gumi in partnership with Samsung SDS, according to Roh’s remarks. The money is intended to support physical AI infrastructure and humanoid robot manufacturing facilities.

Samsung also strengthened its position in robotics through Rainbow Robotics. In late 2024, Samsung raised its stake in the local robotics company and became its largest shareholder, according to a Samsung announcement at the time.

The newly formed RX unit will also seek to build research bases in the U.S., China and Japan, Samsung said. That international footprint would place Samsung closer to major robotics, manufacturing and AI research markets.

For investors watching Samsung, the key issue is whether the company can turn robotics spending into a real business line over time. Tuesday’s share move shows the market welcomed the direction, but Samsung has not yet laid out the financial details needed to judge how quickly robotics could affect earnings.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.