Samsung Asset Management Launches Samsung Global Humanoid Robot Fund

Investing in Not Only U.S. but Also Chinese Humanoid Companies
Including Ubtech, RoboSense, and Xiaomi

As artificial intelligence (AI) technology advances and spreads into everyday life, investment funds focusing on AI service companies and metaverse companies are attracting significant capital. Initially, AI infrastructure such as semiconductors and power grids grew, but analysts predict that the next phase will be driven by AI services and AI robots that utilize this infrastructure.

Samsung Asset Management announced that the three-month net asset value of the ‘Samsung Global ChatAI’ fund’s unhedged (UH) and hedged (H) types reached 44.2 billion KRW and 41.7 billion KRW respectively, ranking first and second among 189 global equity funds.

The Samsung Global Metaverse fund’s unhedged (UH) type also recorded 23.3 billion KRW during the same period, ranking fourth. This indicates growing investor interest in AI-related funds recently.

The Samsung Global ChatAI fund, launched in May 2023, is the first domestic fund to focus intensively on software companies providing services using ‘conversational artificial intelligence’ (Chat AI) and their value chains.

It has been evaluated as different from existing AI funds, which had a high proportion of investments in hardware companies, because it focuses on software companies utilizing Chat AI from the outset. It attracted attention by moving away from investing heavily in mega big-tech companies like the well-known ‘Magnificent 7’ and instead selectively investing in Chat AI service companies.

The portfolio mainly includes next-generation AI core companies boasting high profitability and unique technology, such as Microsoft?the parent company of OpenAI, known for generative AI technology?Adobe, Salesforce, Palantir, AppLovin, ServiceNow, and Manhattan Associates.

The Samsung Global Metaverse fund focuses on companies providing core services and content essential for realizing metaverse environments. The metaverse refers to a world where virtual and real worlds are mixed, eliminating constraints of time and space. It contributes to improving corporate productivity through digital twin implementation, which applies virtual reality technology to real spaces. With recent advances in generative AI technology and the emergence of next-level AR (augmented reality) devices, the metaverse industry is considered to have entered the early stage of its growth cycle.

AI-related funds have ranked high in returns. The Samsung Global ChatAI unhedged (UH) fund achieved a one-year return of 38.8%, while the hedged (H) type recorded 25.3%. Among funds with net assets over 5 billion KRW based on Zero Data, these correspond to second and fifth place respectively. The Samsung Global Metaverse fund also posted a 27.2% return during the same period, ranking fourth.

There is also growing interest in funds investing in companies leading the humanoid robot industry, which implements ‘Physical AI’?considered the ultimate stage of AI development. Humanoids are robots resembling humans equipped with AI technology, expected to be mass-produced and commercialized. On the 4th, Samsung Asset Management launched the country’s first humanoid-themed fund, the ‘Samsung Global Humanoid Robot’ fund. This fund invests not only in U.S. companies but also in Chinese humanoid companies listed in Hong Kong, such as Ubtech, RoboSense, and Xiaomi.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.