LG Uplus invests $2 million in social robot maker
LG Uplus has invested $2 million in social robot maker JIBO, which uses artificial intelligence to sense, respond and learn as humans engage with it. The investment in JIBO, follows LG Uplus' plans to boost its efforts to lead the IT market and become the world's leading IoT based company by 2020, according to a company spokesman.
By Lee Min-hyung



LG Uplus, the nation's third-largest mobile carrier, has invested $2 million in U.S.-based social robot maker JIBO.



The move is expected to boost the company's efforts to lead the information and technology market in the era of the Internet of Things (IoT).



"We have built a partnership with JIBO, aiming to leap to the world's No. 1 IoT-based company by 2020," an LG Uplus spokesman said Thursday.



The company said the JIBO ― the world's first social robot with artificial intelligence ― will be commercialized in the United States early next year.



IT startup JIBO, founded in January, plans to tap into Asian markets including Korea, China and Japan. JIBO has six special features enabling users to send messages to families and use video call services.



LG Uplus said the recent partnership deal is part of the company's "New Life Creator" vision.



"The vision is our effort to create customer-oriented values," the spokesman said. "In the past, suppliers were at the center of values, but it has shifted to customers. We will do our best to grow into a company creating ‘values for life.'"



