HD Hyundai Robotics says Palantir-built AI agents cut robot problem-solving time by 63%

HD Hyundai Robotics, the industrial robot maker within South Korea's HD Hyundai group, said on November 1 that it is expanding its collaboration with US software company Palantir Technologies on what both call physical AI: using AI to plan and adjust how robots operate on factory floors. The company shared early results at Palantir's Sovereignty Bootcamp in New York, where its chief technology officer, Ahn Seong-hwan, gave a keynote on its strategy.

The reported results

According to the company, AI agents developed with Palantir have been used in problem-solving work since August. Over that period, the average time to resolve robot-related problems fell by 63%, from 21.5 days to 7.9 days, as reported by The Korea Herald. The Elec describes the same figure as the average time to complete problem-solving tasks. Neither outlet explains exactly which cases were counted or how the baseline was set, so the figure should be read as the company's own internal measure.

HD Hyundai Robotics also says it expects the technology to lower robot programming costs by more than half. This is a target rather than a reported result.

How the system works

Previously, engineers had to check robot movements by hand and repeatedly tweak operating sequences, paths and speeds, a process the company describes as slow and difficult to standardise. The new agents, built on Palantir's AI platform, analyse existing robot programs and propose improvements. On-site engineers then review and refine those suggestions based on their experience.

The company plans to change the role of its field engineers accordingly. Rather than focusing only on programming and installation, they are to be trained to identify operational problems and build AI-based fixes. Senior executives from both companies will hold regular steering committee meetings to set priorities and look for further use cases with measurable results. Palantir's chief revenue officer, Ryan Taylor, said the work focuses on projects that can show results in a short time.

Context

Palantir has worked with HD Hyundai affiliates for several years, starting with an equity investment in HD Hyundai Oilbank in 2021, according to The Elec. The Sovereignty Bootcamp, launched in July, centres on adopting AI while keeping sensitive corporate data under the company's control. Korean industrial groups are increasingly testing AI on production sites, but results such as these come from the companies themselves and have not been independently audited.