LG and Tenstorrent Expand Partnership to Enhance AI Chip Capabilities
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By News Reporter
Strategic Investment Aims to Accelerate Innovation Across
LG’s Commercial, Home and Industrial Robot Solutions
SEOUL, Jan. 24, 2025 — LG Electronics (LG) has taken a significant step in advancing its robotics capabilities by securing a majority stake in Bear Robotics, a prominent Silicon Valley-based startup specializing in AI-driven autonomous service robots. This acquisition aligns with LG’s strategy to strengthen its presence in the robotics sector, a key growth area for the company.
On January 22, LG’s board of directors exercised a call option to acquire an additional 30 percent stake in Bear Robotics. This follows an initial investment of USD 60 million in March 2024, which secured LG a 21 percent stake and a call option agreement for up to an additional 30 percent stake. Upon completion of the call option exercise, LG will hold a controlling 51 percent stake in Bear Robotics, effectively incorporating it as a subsidiary.
As part of this strategic move, LG’s commercial robot business, primarily centered around “LG CLOi Robots,” will be integrated with Bear Robotics. The key management team of Bear Robotics, including CEO John Ha, will remain in place to ensure stable business continuity and will continue to focus on creating synergies in LG’s commercial robot business.
Founded in 2017, Bear Robotics has gained recognition for its AI-powered indoor delivery robots, catering to markets in the United States, South Korea and Japan. The company is noted for its expertise in distributed multi-robot control, remote fleet management system and AI-powered robot platform.
LG aims to expand its presence in the commercial robot market through Bear Robotics. Concurrently, LG intends to leverage its AI and manufacturing expertise to reinforce its home and industrial robot businesses.
The home robot segment will be spearheaded by the LG Home Appliance Solution Company, a renowned industry leader. The company’s focus will be on delivering a holistic experience where home robots, powered by LG’s Affectionate Intelligence, can astutely discern the well-being of family members and seamlessly integrate with home appliances and services.
A prime illustration of this vision is the Self-driving AI Home Hub (project name: Q9), slated for release within the year. The Q9 harnesses multimodal sensing capabilities, encompassing voice, sound and image recognition, coupled with autonomous driving technology. This enables it to navigate the home effortlessly, precisely identify users’ status and respond to their needs effectively by seamlessly connecting and controlling home appliances and IoT devices. The Q9 adeptly navigates obstacles such as carpets and uneven surfaces, while its expressive display conveys emotions, fostering enhanced interaction and engagement.
The Q9 also features Microsoft’s voice recognition and synthesis technology, enabling natural and intuitive conversations with users. Its ability to understand diverse accents, pronunciations and colloquial expressions garnered the attention of attendees at CES 2025. To foster an open development ecosystem, LG has also introduced a software development kit for the Q9, encouraging developers to expand its capabilities further.
In the realm of industrial robots, a cornerstone of LG’s Smart Factory business, the company’s Production engineering Research Institute is spearheading substantial revenue growth through the integration of AI and digital transformation. A key example is the “Autonomous Vertical Articulated Robot,” which employs sensors including cameras, radar and LiDAR to perceive its surroundings, navigate efficiently, supply materials and execute tasks such as assembly and defect inspection with its robotic arm. This innovation facilitates seamless automation across a range of operations.
LG’s CEO William Cho, speaking this month at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, emphasized the importance of this investment, stating, “Robots are a certain future,” and hinted at plans to expand beyond the current focus on hospitality and logistics delivery robots to include the Self-driving AI Home Hub and other home robots to achieve “Zero-labor Home.”
The acquisition of management control of Bear Robotics is expected to create synergies across LG’s entire robotics business, including commercial robots. As the robotics industry increasingly shifts towards AI-centric solutions, this collaboration is poised to significantly enhance LG’s overall robotics software capabilities. LG intends to create an integrated software platform for commercial, industrial and home robots leveraging Bear Robotics’ technology. This platform aims to deliver a consistent and high-quality user experience across various applications. By applying this integrated platform universally to the development of different types of robots, LG expects to shorten development cycles.
LG’s advanced manufacturing capabilities and supply chain management expertise are poised to enhance the operational efficiency and market responsiveness of its robotics business. Furthermore, the extensive global sales network developed through its B2B operations will facilitate broader product distribution. By integrating commercial robots with a range of B2B solutions, including hotel TVs, signage and IT devices, LG can achieve a competitive edge through a turnkey order approach, delivering tailored products that meet the specific needs of corporate clients.
“This additional investment underscores our dedication to positioning robots as a pivotal growth engine for the company, reflecting our belief in their inevitable role in the future,” stated Lee Sam-soo, Chief Strategy Officer at LG Electronics. “We will persist in driving innovation across all sectors of robotics, encompassing commercial, industrial and home applications.”
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By News Reporter
LG Brings Xbox Cloud Gaming Experience to its Newly Launching Gaming Portal
Las Vegas, Jan. 6, 2025 — LG Electronics (LG) has announced a partnership with Xbox, providing players access to hundreds of games with the Xbox app on LG Smart TVs. Owners of LG’s latest Smart TVs1 will be able to effortlessly discover and play a wide selection of PC and console games from industry-leading partners, and soon Xbox, through the new Gaming Portal.2 This versatile, gaming centric hub is designed as an all-in-one solution for seamless navigation and personalized gaming, both for the latest AAA games and casual webOS app games.
For gaming enthusiasts, LG Smart TV users can soon explore the Gaming Portal for direct access to hundreds of games with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, including popular titles like Call of Duty®: BlackOps 6, and highly anticipated releases like Avowed. With Game Pass Ultimate, players will also be able to stream a catalog of select Xbox games they own such as NBA 2K25 or Hogwarts Legacy.
“We are thrilled to announce the partnership with Xbox, which aims to enrich the gaming experience on LG Smart TVs with a broader selection of popular games,” said Chris Jo, senior vice president of platform business at the LG Media Entertainment Solution Company. “The Gaming Portal will provide users with a seamless, convenient and exciting way to enhance the gaming experience on LG Smart TVs.”
“Our partnership with LG will help players easily discover and play games through the new Gaming Portal on LG Smart TVs,” said Lori Wright, Corporate Vice President of Xbox. “We’re fortunate to have a great partner in LG who will bring Xbox Cloud Gaming to more players, letting new and longtime Xbox’ers find their favorite games and play with friends across screens.”
Powered by webOS and easily accessible from the Home Screen, the Gaming Portal’s intuitive interface ensures that users can effortlessly discover and enjoy their favorite games with ease. LG’s Gaming Portal provides a comprehensive overview with an app list that includes cloud gaming apps, webOS app games playable with the remote controller, recently played titles, the top 10 most popular games, editor’s picks, and other tailored, user-friendly gaming experiences.
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1 Service and country availability will be announced at a later date.
2 Gaming Portal availability can vary per TV model.
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By News Reporter
A Joint Effort Between LG and Top Research Universities, Consortium to Accelerate
the Development of Next-Generation Heat Pump and Establish Industry Standards
SEOUL, Sep. 24, 2024 — LG Electronics (LG) is hosting the first-ever meeting of the Global Heat Pump Consortium in Seoul, South Korea, from September 23-26. A cooperative venture between LG and a growing number of international universities, the consortium is focused on developing new, more efficient heat pump technologies, including solutions designed to handle harsh climatic conditions. The event brings together LG personnel and academics from participating universities to introduce heat pump technologies and discuss industry-academia projects being conducted by each of the consortium’s regional clusters.
The Global Heat Pump Consortium comprises LG-led heat pump R&D consortiums established in Alaska, USA (November 2023) and in Oslo, Norway and Harbin, China (June and August of 2024, respectively). The consortium also includes a South Korean cluster, with LG working collaboratively with respected universities in Seoul and Busan to drive heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) innovation.
On the first day of the event, LG introduced key heat pump technologies and products from its industry-leading lineup of high-efficiency HVAC solutions. Each regional consortium then provided an update on its specific research tasks and shared its current progress in evaluating high-performance heat pump tech for challenging climates. The inaugural meeting of the global consortium is also offering attendees valuable learning opportunities, with seminars and discussions on topics, including the latest HVAC industry and market trends, and future technologies for region-specific heat pump solutions.
Through cooperating with universities known for their top-tier HVAC research programs, LG is strengthening its own R&D capabilities and accelerating the development of the next generation of heat pumps. The company anticipates that the groundbreaking work being carried out by the consortium will also help strengthen its competitiveness in the global heating and cooling solutions market.
Internationally, the demand for high-efficiency, low-carbon-emission heat pumps is rapidly increasing, in large part due to the worldwide electrification and decarbonization trends. Solidifying its status as a technology leader and responsible corporate citizen, LG is leveraging its cutting-edge heat pump technology to deliver region-specific heating and cooling solutions for the North American, European and Asian HVAC markets.
At an investor forum in August, LG highlighted “B2B acceleration” as one of its four key strategies for business portfolio innovation. The HVAC business, a major component of the company’s diverse B2B portfolio, has become a market leader based on the strength of its advanced, highly-efficient core technologies, such as inverter compressors, heat exchangers and AI engines.
Around the globe, LG is enhancing the capabilities of its HVAC business through creating locally complete systems encompassing R&D, sales, manufacturing and maintenance. In addition, the company currently operates five Air Solution Research Labs – with facilities located in Korea, North America, Europe and India – and has a network of HVAC academies spanning 43 countries and training over 30,000 engineers annually.
“We are committed to accelerating our HVAC business, with heat pump innovation as the cornerstone of our vision,” said James Lee, head of the Air Solution Business Unit at LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company. “Through the Global Heat Pump Consortium, we aim to lead the HVAC industry with decarbonization solutions aligned with the global electrification trend.”
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By News Reporter
Companies to Jointly Develop Total Solutions for Virtual Production and XR Studios
SEOUL, Sep. 9, 2024 — LG Electronics (LG) announces it has acquired a stake in
link hidden, please login to view (Mo-Sys), a market leading developer of virtual production solutions and camera robotics. The strategic seed investment and partnership will expand LG’s capabilities in the virtual production and broadcasting technology segments, enabling it to deliver a more comprehensive lineup of sophisticated hardware- and software-based solutions. Formerly the exclusive province of the movie industry, virtual production studios are becoming increasingly popular with TV broadcasters, and with corporations and educational institutions seeking to create their own content in house. Employing a wide array of advanced technologies, including large-scale LED screens, camera tracking, LED controllers and media servers, virtual production stages have brought a new dimension – and a raft of new possibilities – to the art of visual storytelling.
Renowned for its industry-leading display technology, LG has already established itself in this growing segment, providing its Micro LED and LED screens for both virtual reality (VR) studios and extended reality (XR) stages. Through its newly-signed strategic partnership with Mo-Sys, LG will be able to offer a fuller range of solutions for virtual production and XR studios. As part of the agreement, the two companies will be able to seamlessly support customers who choose to combine LG’s LED displays and controllers with Mo-Sys’s XR products and systems to create a total solution for XR.
“We’re excited by this new partnership, and by the unique value we’ll be able to deliver to customers through combining LG’s mastery of display technology with Mo-Sys’s expertise in virtual production solutions,” said Paik Ki-mun, senior vice president and head of the Information Display business unit of LG Business Solutions Company. “LG will continue to pursue collaboration with partners to strengthen its capabilities as a provider of B2B solutions and innovative experiences.”
Michael Geissler, CEO of Mo-Sys Engineering, commented, “We are delighted to have LG’s support as we continue to innovate in the field of next-generation virtual production technology. Their investment will enable us to enhance our R&D efforts, drive sustainability, and create more efficient production solutions.”
LG virtual production solutions will be on show at the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) 2024 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands (September 13-16). For more information, visit .
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By News Reporter
Aligned With Vision of Achieving KRW 100 Trillion in B2B Revenue by 2030,
Company Enters MOU to Develop Next-Generation EV Charging Solutions
SEOUL, June 18, 2024 — LG Electronics (LG) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and a definitive agreement for commercial electric vehicle (EV) charging in the United States with ChargePoint, a leading provider of networked charging solutions for EVs. LG anticipates that the MOU will accelerate the growth of its EV charging business. The MOU is also expected to further expedite the growth of LG’s B2B operations and support the company’s transformation into a Smart Life Solutions company.
ChargePoint, which has more than 306,000 active ports under management on its network, operates across the North America and Europe. Last year, LG CEO William Cho identified the EV charging business as LG’s new growth engine, and has committed to developing it into a trillion-KRW scale enterprise by 2030. With the recently signed MOU, LG will be able to leverage ChargePoint’s expansive network to explore EV charger supply opportunities around the globe, while ChargePoint, its customers and its drivers stand to benefit from LG’s reliable, high-quality EV charging solutions.
Enhancing EV Charging Business Through LG and ChargePoint’s Synergy
Through the agreement, LG augments its existing client base by securing ChargePoint, which possesses an extensive portfolio of charging solutions, as a customer. Meanwhile, ChargePoint will receive a stable supply of LG’s high-quality EV chargers.
The new partnership is also expected to boost the competitiveness of both companies with regard to securing contracts for public sector charging infrastructure projects. Crucial factors determining the selection of business operators for U.S. government projects include domestic production, quality and security levels. LG’s EV chargers, which are made in Texas, have received Underwriter Laboratories certification for charging stability. Additionally, ChargePoint cloud software products have been authorized by the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program.
LG has established itself as a trusted business partner in North America through its various B2B concerns, including hotel TVs, digital signage and robot solutions. LG and ChargePoint will collaborate to expand their charging business, targeting new customers as well as LG’s existing B2B partners in hospitality, healthcare, retail and other sectors.
Bolstering Market Position by Leveraging LG DOOH Ads and LG ThinQ
As part of the MOU, the two companies are exploring the viability of integrating LG’s existing platforms used in other sectors – such as the LG DOOH Ads digital out of home (DOOH) advertising solution for commercial displays – into their EV charging solutions. Applying the LG DOOH Ads solution to EV charger displays will enable the convenient broadcast of diverse advertisements and enhancement of B2B customer experience.
LG and ChargePoint also plan to develop a smart home solution that connects EV chargers and household devices via the LG ThinQ smart home platform and ChargePoint’s award-winning Home Flex home charging solution. Through its collaborations with ChargePoint, LG expects to elevate its position in the highly-competitive EV charger market and reinforce its reputation as a reliable and innovative EV charging solutions provider.
“There is incredible synergy between our two companies, and we fully anticipate that this partnership will help LG to become a global leader in the EV charging business,” said Suh Heung-kyu, vice president and head of the Electric Vehicle Charging business division of LG Business Solutions Company. “LG will continue to pursue strategic collaborations to advance innovation and further strengthen its status as a total EV charging solutions provider.”
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