Doosan Establishes Dedicated 'Physical AI' Organization to Accelerate Robotics and Construction Equipment Intelligence

Applying Technology to Robotics, Construction Equipment, and Power Generation Facilities
Industry-Academia Partnership Signed with Stanford HAI
Aiming to Secure Top Talent and Lead Technology Standards

Doosan Group is making a full-fledged entry into the field of 'Physical AI,' which integrates artificial intelligence (AI) into key industries such as robotics, construction equipment, and power generation devices.

On May 13, Doosan announced that it has established the 'PAI Lab (Physical AI Lab)' within its holding company division, aiming to develop physical AI technologies and foster a related ecosystem. Physical AI refers to technology that applies AI with human-level decision-making capabilities to actual machines or robots, enabling them to recognize, judge, and act autonomously in real-world environments. Unlike conventional software-centric AI, the core of physical AI is the advanced hardware intelligence optimized for industrial sites.

At the industry-academia cooperation agreement ceremony held last month at Doosan Tower in Dongdaemun, Park Jiwon, Vice Chairman of Doosan Group (left), and James Landay, Co-Director of the HAI Research Institute at Stanford University (right), are taking a commemorative photo. Photo by Doosan

The PAI Lab plans to collaborate with affiliates such as Doosan Robotics, Doosan Bobcat, and Doosan Enerbility to centrally manage related technologies, establish long-term roadmaps, and invest in key startups. Doosan Robotics intends to evolve its existing collaborative robots, which were previously limited to repetitive tasks, into highly intelligent robots capable of operating in unstructured environments by integrating physical AI. Doosan Bobcat aims to develop 'autonomous work' equipment that goes beyond autonomous driving to include task planning and execution. Doosan Enerbility, which is responsible for power generation facilities, also plans to apply AI to key equipment within power plants, enabling autonomous decision-making between facilities and more efficient energy production.

To secure physical AI technology, Doosan recently entered into an industry-academia partnership with the Human-Centered AI Institute (HAI) at Stanford University in the United States. Doosan is the first industrial goods company to collaborate with HAI and plans to expand its global AI network and recruit top talent through joint research and talent exchange.

With this partnership, Doosan aims to broaden its network with the global AI talent pool and secure leadership in establishing global standards for physical AI technology and in applied research. A Doosan representative stated, "We plan to recruit a global AI expert as the leader of the PAI Lab," adding, "At the group level, we will pursue strategic investments and internalize technologies to take the lead in the physical AI market."