A video of a humanoid robot performing wheelchair transfers and bed management tasks at a hospital is spreading rapidly online.
On Wednesday, a video circulated on social media platforms including X showing the "G1" humanoid robot, developed by Chinese robotics firm Unitree, carrying out actual caregiving support tasks in a hospital setting.
The footage shows the robot moving wheelchairs, adjusting bed angles, and even opening drawers to restock ward supplies. The robot is priced at approximately $16,000 (about 24 million won) and is reportedly designed to replace repetitive tasks and physical labor within hospital wards.
In Japan, Tsukuba University Hospital and medical institutions in Aichi Prefecture are piloting robots for patient guidance, nighttime patrols, and specimen transport. In Taiwan, Taichung Veterans General Hospital uses "Nurabot" for nursing assistance. The robot was jointly developed by Foxconn and Japan's Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and the hospital said its adoption could reduce nursing workload by up to 30%.
Nvidia partnered with AI medical startup Hippocratic AI in 2024 to launch an "AI nurse" service. The service provides real-time video-based consultations and was promoted as a way to cut costs compared to human nurses, whose labor costs reach $90 per hour (approximately 130,000 won).
"Nurses Will Not Be Replaced" — Sentiment in Korea and the U.S.
Even as such technology adoption accelerates, analyses consistently suggest that nurses are unlikely to be fully replaced by AI.
According to a survey on public perception of AI proliferation conducted by Dooit Survey and Research & Lab from February 9 to 10 among 1,532 internet users nationwide, caregiving professions including nurses and care workers were rated as relatively safe from AI displacement.
In the survey, on-site skilled and technical workers scored highest at 68.1 points, followed closely by nursing and caregiving professions at 67.9 points. The results are interpreted as reflecting the nature of these jobs, which require on-site judgment, emotional interaction, and accountability.
In the United States, nursing is also emerging as a "promising career" in the AI era.
According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the median annual salary for registered nurses (RNs) is $93,600 (approximately 140 million won), roughly double the overall occupational average. Master's-level advanced practice nurses earn up to $132,050 (approximately 198 million won).
An analysis by the University of Chicago found that the healthcare industry has already surpassed manufacturing and retail as the largest job-creating sector, with nursing demand projected to continue rising. Advanced practice nursing positions are forecast to grow 35% from 2024 to 2034.