KBS Documentary Insight, AI Playtime is Over... Highlighting Real-World Competition in 'Industrial AI' involving Robots and Semiconductors

AI, Playtime is Over: Goliath's Time

Following the 'Chimaek Meeting' between Jensen Huang, Lee Jae-yong, and Chung Eui-sun... The era of 'Industrial AI' is coming

Broadcast: Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 10 PM on KBS 1TV

Along with the AI craze, demand for semiconductors, including GPUs and HBM, is exploding. Amidst the HBM supply shortage and surging demand, Korean semiconductor companies are enjoying a boom. We examine how long this boom can last.

AI, which used to surprise us by creating Ghibli-style images and engaging in conversation, was like an amusement park; now, artificial intelligence is entering an era of performing actual work. AI is leaving the laboratory and heading toward real industrial sites. Beyond how smart an AI can be, the new standard of competition is whether AI can actually perform tasks and increase productivity. In 2026, moving from research to real-world application. Having passed its adolescence, AI has become a giant, opening the doors to new industries.

From Play to Reality, the Second Era of Artificial Intelligence

"I think the global memory market alone will exceed 1.03 trillion dollars next year. The estimated Korean semiconductor revenue for 2027 is between 900 billion and 1 trillion dollars" - Seung-woo Lee / Head of Eugene Investment & Securities Research Center -

In October 2025, the 'Chimaek Meeting' between NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun made waves in South Korea. At that time, HBM was still the biggest topic for us, but a new change had already begun in the AI market.

When AI first appeared, it was important to secure GPUs and HBM to create superior models. However, as companies begin to use AI in actual work, the demand for general-purpose memory such as DRAM and NAND flash is also growing. General-purpose memory plays a role required for AI to remember the context of long conversations and tasks and to process work over long periods.

An era where more money is being spent on deploying AI into work rather than creating AI. The goal of the artificial intelligence industry is shifting from 'smarter AI' to 'AI that produces actual results.'

Humanoids heading to factories, not stages

"I have seen many Chinese robots running and jumping, but it was difficult to see the delicate and smooth movements required to work in a factory. This time, Boston Dynamics has shown such movements." - Deok-jin Kim / Director of IT Communication Research Institute -

The change was also distinct at CES 2026 (the world's largest IT and consumer electronics exhibition) held in Las Vegas, USA, this January. In particular, the goals of robot companies are changing.

Boston Dynamics' humanoid 'Atlas' drew attention by walking out slowly instead of running or dancing. In a video released later, it was seen picking up and moving a small refrigerator. Rather than flashy somersaults, Atlas's goal is to create a strong robot that can replace human heavy labor.

Chinese humanoids, which had previously been running, fighting, and performing group dances, are also changing. This year, Chinese companies have successively released videos of robots actually working, such as sorting, assembling, and transporting goods. The stage for robots is beginning to move from performance halls to manufacturing sites. The goal of the humanoid competition is now clear: not a robot that moves well on a stage, but a robot that actually works in a factory.

Physical AI, a new competition begins

"When I went to the field, most of the tasks could not be done with these kinds of grippers. About 70 to 80 percent of the tasks were many that could only be handled if they had human-level five fingers and high-intelligence dexterity" - Jung-hee Ryu / CEO of Physical AI company Realworld -

A new competition has also begun in South Korea. The domestic company Robotis created the humanoid 'AI Sapiens' by connecting its own actuator (a driving device that moves robot joints) modules. When AI data was trained in a virtual world, the robot mastered K-pop choreography in a short time. It showed that Korea can now possess robot hardware with excellent athletic abilities. Robotis's idea is that if companies train this robot with the data from their own business sites, they can have their own specialized robots.

The physical AI company Realworld goes one step further and focuses on human 'hands.' Seeing that manufacturing labor depends on hand skills, they are developing hand intelligence that can operate robot hands. Their goal is to take the lead in physical AI through high-level hand intelligence that can be used freely in factories.

Manufacturing high-level intelligence and deploying it into industry to increase productivity. The competition in the AI industry toward new goals is becoming more intense. Global AI companies are pouring massive funds into constructing data centers worldwide to secure competitiveness in future industries. Today's gap could become the 'super-gap' of the future. However, no one can guarantee whether today's rankings will continue into the next era.

It is 'Goliath's Time,' when artificial intelligence leaves the laboratory and enters industrial sites. Where will South Korea's place be in the next era? We stand before that question now. Documentary Insight> 'AI, Playtime is Over: Goliath's Time' will be broadcast on KBS 1TV on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 10 PM.

(Photo provided = KBS 1TV 'Documentary Insight')

◆ At a Glance

· Publishing Institution: KBS

· Category: Documentary Insight

· Distribution: September 10, 09:32

Source: KBS Press Release

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