Krafton is joining hands with Hanwha Aerospace to move into the physical artificial intelligence (AI) market. The two corporations plan to establish a joint venture (JV) focused on physical AI research and commercialization, with a vision to grow it into a company like the U.S. AI defense firm "Anduril."
On the 13th, Krafton said it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hanwha Aerospace for joint development of physical AI technology and the establishment of a JV. The goal is to combine Krafton's AI research capabilities and software development technology with the defense and manufacturing industry infrastructure that Hanwha Group possesses.
The two corporations will gradually push forward tasks such as joint research and development of core physical AI technologies, reviews of demonstration and application scenarios, and the establishment of technical and operational systems. A Krafton official said, "Krafton's data operations experience and virtual environment-based simulation technology are key resources that will advance the learning and verification processes of physical AI," adding, "Based on this, we will enhance the completeness of physical AI technologies that operate in real-world environments and sequentially carry out demonstrations for field application."
They also plan to promote the establishment of a JV to apply the results of joint development in the field and link them to commercialization, strengthening a mid- to long-term cooperation system.
Krafton will also join as an investor in a fund created by Hanwha Asset Management. The fund focuses on promising AI, Robotics, and defense sectors. The target fund size is $1 billion. Based on the fund, the two corporations plan to identify partners with high growth potential and link them to joint development and commercialization.
Krafton CEO Kim Chang-han said, "We will accelerate the development of technologies that operate in real-world environments by combining Krafton's AI technological prowess and software operations capabilities with Hanwha's field-based strengths," adding, "Going forward, we will establish a JV with Hanwha to connect joint development outcomes to commercialization and grow the JV into 'a global defense technology corporations like Anduril.'"
Hanwha Aerospace CEO Son Jae-il said, "AI technology is rapidly growing into physical AI that is utilized in the defense sector beyond industry," adding, "Through cooperation with Krafton, we will set a new technology paradigm standard in physical AI and the future defense sector."