Hyundai says humanoid robots are not part of current strike talks

In short: Hyundai says its planned use of humanoid robots starting in 2028 is not part of its current negotiations with striking autoworkers in South Korea.

What happened

Hyundai Motor Company said reports linking ongoing partial strikes in South Korea to fears about humanoid robots are not accurate. The company said current union demands are about pay, bonuses, and extending the retirement age.

Hyundai also said that possible robot use in South Korean factories is not being discussed in the current talks. The company added that it plans an initial rollout of the Atlas humanoid robot at Hyundai Metaplant America, an electric vehicle factory near Savannah, Georgia, starting in 2028.

A humanoid robot is a robot shaped roughly like a person, with arms and legs, that can do physical tasks (like an extra worker that does not get tired). Atlas was developed by Boston Dynamics, a US robotics company that is owned by Hyundai.

The Hyundai Motor union has previously warned that new robot deployments must be negotiated. In a letter reported earlier by Reuters, the union said no new robots using new technology should enter the workplace without a labor-management agreement.

Why it matters

This dispute shows how automation and robots are becoming a key issue in wage and job security talks. For workers, the worry is that robots could reduce hours or replace some tasks. For companies, the challenge is introducing new machines while keeping employees and unions on board.

Source: Arstechnica