The second-floor lobby of the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Thursday. At "Seoul Forum 2026," a vivid showcase unfolded that allowed visitors to witness firsthand the so-called "physical AI," in which generative artificial intelligence (AI) expands beyond the digital world into the physical reality. AI appeared in a form that takes on physical substance beyond the digital realm, rapidly breaking down the boundaries of existing industries such as manufacturing, logistics, shipbuilding, and biotechnology. The hotel lobby, which would normally be a place of calm conversation, was transformed into a venue of wondrous experiences reminiscent of a city of the future.
"Spot," a quadrupedal walking robot from Boston Dynamics, the robotics affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group, and "IL Bot Y1," a humanoid robot from IL Robotics, received an enthusiastic barrage of camera flashes from attendees and visitors. As Spot, which has gained fame after being deployed at sites including the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, moved smoothly around the venue, cheers erupted everywhere. Equipped with high-performance actuators, Spot caught the eye by wagging its body like a puppy. It showed off its flexibility on site, demonstrating moves capable of dancing to the music of idol group BTS.
Spot continues to evolve. On this day, after being fitted with its dedicated robotic arm "Spot Arm," it firmly held up a sign introducing the event. Spot has the advantage of being able to manipulate objects in dangerous areas on behalf of humans using its arm. One participant said, "It is amazing to actually see Spot at the Seoul Forum, when it usually only appears at CES, the world's largest electronics and information technology (IT) exhibition," adding, "Its movements were natural and precise." Spot has recently been reborn as physical AI by incorporating Google's generative AI Gemini.
Two IL Bot Y1 units, about the height of a third-grade elementary school student, strolled around the lobby, making eye contact with participants and greeting them. The IL Bot Y1, jointly developed by China's AgiBot and IL Robotics, is a humanoid robot designed for use across various industries. The IL Bot Y1 waved at people and shook their hands. It also performed a gesture expressing a heart shape with its whole body. Unlike robots that merely repeat simple programmed tasks, it can understand its surrounding environment like a human and communicate while making more than 30 facial expressions, according to the explanation. An IL Robotics official said, "Its neck, arms, wrists, and legs have a range of motion similar to that of a human, allowing it to flexibly perform complex manipulations."
Participants headed to the lecture hall after experiencing the massive wave of "physical AI" firsthand. The two robots drew praise as a giant compass clearly demonstrating the theme of Seoul Forum 2026, "Beyond Intelligence, Toward a New Engine of Industry." An executive at a financial company marveled, "This is the first time I have seen and touched a humanoid robot that actually walks and operates," adding, "Encountering cutting-edge technology makes me think our organization needs to accelerate its AI adoption."
