DEEPX Partners with Hyundai to Power Next-Gen AI Robots Ahead of IPO

South Korean AI chip startup DEEPX is deepening its collaboration with Hyundai Motor Group to build a cutting-edge computing platform for generative AI-powered robots. The initiative will be driven by the company's upcoming second-generation low-power chips, as DEEPX simultaneously prepares for a public listing on the Korean stock exchange.

The Seoul-based company is currently in active discussions with government bodies and private investors to secure over 600 billion won (approximately $408 million) in a pre-IPO funding round, according to CEO Lokwon Kim. Founded by Kim, a former Apple engineer, DEEPX specializes in neural processing units (NPUs) — compact, energy-efficient chips that enable robots, autonomous vehicles, and smart factories to execute AI tasks locally, without relying on cloud connectivity.

DEEPX's chips are already embedded in Hyundai's four-wheeled delivery robots, and the expanded partnership will introduce the more advanced DX-M2 chip into Hyundai's next robotics platform. These second-generation chips are slated for mass production using Samsung Electronics' cutting-edge 2-nanometer manufacturing process. The DX-M2 is specifically optimized for generative AI workloads, giving robots the ability to learn from real-world experiences — similar in concept to how large language models like ChatGPT process and adapt to new information.

A key advantage of DEEPX's technology is its thermal efficiency. Lower power consumption helps address overheating concerns in humanoid robots — a growing challenge as these machines take on increasingly complex tasks. Kim also noted that the current chip lineup delivers performance comparable to Nvidia's Jetson Orin at a fraction of the power and cost.

Hyundai, which introduced its Atlas humanoid robot earlier this year, is targeting annual production of 30,000 robot units by 2028. Globally, DEEPX counts China's Baidu among its customers and is targeting $40 million in revenue this year, with a potential secondary U.S. listing via American Depositary Receipts under consideration for the future.