WATCH: Korean tech giant Naver boosts human productivity with AI robots

5 mins read

South Korea is at the forefront of integrating AI robots into everyday life, making the country a fascinating testbed for artificial intelligence and automation.

From offices to factories, robots are stepping in to fill gaps. Not only do they redefine work, they also improve human efficiency.

South Korea’s robots


UPDATE: I spoke on Power FM about Naver’s Rookie robots and South Korea’s robotic wins. Listen to it here:


According to the International Federation of Robotics, South Korea leads the world in robot density, with 1,012 robots for every 10,000 factory employees.

That’s more than six times the global average.

These aren’t just factory bots, though. You’ll find robots cleaning airport floors, delivering mail, and even serving food in restaurants.

One standout example of this robotic integration is at Naver Corp., Korea’s leading internet and mapping company.

Often dubbed the ‘Korean Google,’ Naver is South Korea’s leading search engine.

Naver’s impressive AI-robot fleet

Much like Google’s parent company Alphabet, Naver has its hands in nearly every corner of tech, from AI and robotics to healthcare, autonomous vehicles, and the metaverse.

At its headquarters – nicknamed 1784 – over 120 robots known as ‘Rookies’ work alongside 4,500 employees.

The Rookie bot is an autonomous driving service robot designed to provide “various services to people in Naver’s offices.”

These AI-powered robots are everywhere; they even have their own elevator shaft.

What do these robots do? Glad you asked! They:

  • Deliver coffee, meals, and packages to employees’ desks.
  • Use facial recognition to identify workers and customise their deliveries.
  • Glide through specially designed ‘robot crossings’ and elevators dedicated to their use.

World’s first robot-friendly building

Naver’s headquarters is the “world’s first robot-friendly building,” with its 36 floors designed specifically to accommodate seamless robot-human interaction.

The Rookies rely on Naver’s cloud-based control system to navigate the building, avoiding collisions and optimising routes.

Look at how they navigate with ease:

This robotic utopia even includes research into robot etiquette.

Questions like “Should robots stand in the middle of an elevator or move to the side when humans enter?” and “How close should a robot stop when delivering an item?” are under study.

The goal of this type of research is to make human-robot interactions as natural as possible.

Naver Labs and robotics

Driving many of its cutting-edge innovations is its R&D subsidiary, Naver Labs, which believes in a natural coexistence between humans and robots.

As such, Naver Labs’ robotics research is “for everyday applications, not for factories.”

naver service ai robots
Navers AI robots navigate around the 36 story building

The company says beyond their research, they also “create standards for Naver’s robots to coexist with people.”

“Our robots are applied with principles of human-friendly robot interaction: optimal design, driving methods that comply with social norms, and intuitive communication through facial expressions and light are some examples.”

The other bots in Naver’s stead include:

  • ARTO-1: A drawing robot that learns from human brushstrokes.
  • ALT: An on-road autonomous driving robot that can navigate urban areas.
  • AMBIDEX: a dual-armed robot capable of fast motions and handling high-payload tasks.

Here’s AMBIDEX in action:

Naver’s AI ecosystem

Naver’s robotic integration is just one part of its AI-driven ecosystem:

  • Building infrastructure: Employees can remotely control lighting and ventilation in meeting rooms using an AI assistant.

  • Cafeteria management: An AI chatbot provides real-time updates on menu options and wait times.

  • Healthcare: An in-house clinic uses AI to maintain medical records and translate inputs into accurate medical terminology.

These innovations demonstrate how AI can simplify routine tasks and improve overall efficiency in the workplace.

Learn more about Naver’s 1784 building here. (No seriously, take a look. It’s quite impressive.)

Naver’s AI robot fleet is even down for a birthday bash!

ALSO READ: Are robots stealing our skills? MIT expert says maybe not

A glimpse into future workplaces

The integration of robots at Naver reflects broader trends across South Korea.

In factories, robots are taking over manual tasks, allowing human workers to focus on design, management, and planning roles.

This shift hasn’t sparked resistance or unrest, partly because robots help companies comply with South Korea’s strict labour laws, including the 52-hour workweek and minimum wage standards.

Naver Rookie AI-robots
Naver Rookie AI robots and their special elevator

However, not everyone can afford this level of automation.

A 2024 study by Korea Industrial Complex Corporation found that 41% of smaller companies are struggling with the costs of robot-driven automation.

This highlights a growing divide between big manufacturers and smaller businesses.

Lessons for South Africa

South African companies and R&D facilities can learn from South Korea’s robotic and AI adoption.

From improving workplace efficiency to tackling labour shortages, these technologies could address challenges in South Africa’s own industries, everything from mining automation and healthcare, to retail and manufacturing.

Let’s look at some of these examples:

Mining robotics

South Africa’s mining sector has already begun adopting robotics and AI to improve safety and efficiency. For instance, Anglo-American uses autonomous haul trucks and AI-powered drilling systems.

These technologies reduce workplace injuries and boost productivity in one of the country’s most hazardous industries.

AI robotics in healthcare

Discovery Health has incorporated AI into its operations, such as using machine learning algorithms to detect patterns in patient data for early diagnosis and risk prediction.

Robots could further assist in hospitals by handling tasks like sterilising equipment or delivering medical supplies, similar to Naver’s AI robots.

Agricultural robotics

South Africa’s agricultural sector has explored robotic farming equipment, such as drones for crop monitoring and irrigation management.

Companies like Aerobotics (based in Cape Town) use AI-driven drones and software to analyse data from orchards, helping farmers manage resources and improve yields efficiently.

Retail and warehousing

Takealot, South Africa’s largest online retailer, has begun implementing warehouse robotics to manage inventory more efficiently.

Robotic arms and automated storage solutions help reduce human error and improve delivery times, similar to the way robots assist with logistics at Naver.

Smart cities

Johannesburg’s City Power uses AI (and a chatbot called Joulene) in grid management to optimise energy distribution and predict outages.

The adoption of robotic systems for maintenance, such as inspecting power lines and infrastructure, could further enhance operational efficiency and reduce downtime.

Manufacturing robotics

In the automotive sector, factories like BMW in Rosslyn and Ford in Silverton use industrial robots for tasks like welding and assembling vehicles.

Expanding the use of collaborative robots (known as cobots) in smaller manufacturing facilities could help address labour shortages while boosting production quality.


Cobots are fascinating. I went deep here:

The Ultimate Guide to Collaborative Robots and Their Applications


Financial services

FNB and Standard Bank use AI chatbots to enhance customer service and manage routine queries.

Incorporating robotics could further streamline in-branch services, such as cash handling or document scanning, allowing human staff to focus on complex tasks.

Public transport

With growing urban populations, South Africa’s transport systems could integrate autonomous shuttles or AI-powered scheduling systems, similar to how Naver integrates AI in workplace mobility.

Although, it might take some time for South Africans to get on board with autonomous vehicles….

READ: AVs in SA? A glimpse into our e-hailing future from China’s present

This could ease congestion and improve public transport reliability.

All that said, affordability and infrastructure gaps still remain.

However, it’s nice to dream, and South Korea’s advancements serve as a reminder of the possibilities that come with embracing automation and AI robotics.

author avatar
Cheryl Kahla Founder and Editor
Cheryl Kahla explores the intersections of tech and society. She covers emerging tech trends, AI, science, and gaming. Outside of writing, Cheryl indulges in martial arts and debating the merits of AI with her cat, Gotham. He is indifferent to the subject.

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