From Taxis to Robot Platforms: The Future Envisioned by Kakao Mobility

"While robots can each carry out their own missions independently, they must work together collaboratively. Now is the era of robot operations, not just manufacturing."

Eunkyoo Kang, Future Business Platform Leader at Kakao Mobility, discussed recent changes in the robotics industry at a media study held at Kakao Ajit in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on the afternoon of May 12. He emphasized that operating robots through software platforms is becoming increasingly important.

Kakao Mobility is ramping up efforts in the robot platform sector as the era of physical artificial intelligence (AI) arrives. This shift is driven by the growing significance of software platforms that manage robots, rather than just the hardware itself. Kakao Mobility plans to build an open robot ecosystem, leveraging its experience operating KakaoT, the largest mobility platform in Korea.

Kang explained why platforms are becoming crucial in the robotics industry, saying, "A wide variety of robots are being deployed at industrial sites, and the key issue in the market is how efficiently multiple robots can be utilized. Rather than the performance of a single device, software and platforms that integrate and optimize multiple devices are emerging as differentiating factors."

To address this, Kakao Mobility has set out goals including building interfaces (APIs) for robots, expanding integration with mobility systems, and establishing standards for the robot ecosystem through partnerships. Kang stated, "We aim to build an open ecosystem for robots through partnerships. We have already established standard APIs that allow various robotics companies to connect with Kakao Mobility's platform, and we are preparing so that a wide range of hardware partners can collaborate in an open manner."

Next, Dooyong Oh, Robot Development Leader at Kakao Mobility, took the stage to explain the role of software platforms in the robotics industry. Introducing Kakao Mobility's robot autonomous agent, Oh explained, "It is not simply a system that substitutes what robots cannot technically do. Instead, it is responsible for integrating with service operations in areas that are fundamentally outside the robot's realm of judgment."

The core technologies accumulated from operating KakaoT are also being applied to the robot platform. Oh emphasized, "Just as we assign the optimal taxi from nearby vehicles when a passenger requests a ride, when a service request comes in, we select the optimal robot from those available. The DNA of Kakao Mobility's accumulated dispatch technology is embedded in the robot platform as well."

During the subsequent Q&A session, Kang addressed the reason for entering the robotics field by saying, "In the domain of mobility, I see robotics as an extension of the movement space. Platforms are essential at sites where robots are used, and our role will be to ensure users can utilize robots effectively."

Regarding global expansion, he said, "Nothing has been decided in detail yet, but we are exploring opportunities. If the robot platform is designed to be easily adopted by companies, there will be good opportunities ahead."