LG unveils Zero Labor Home vision with CLOiD robot and Physical AI at CES 2026

The Next Frontier: LG's future is not just the TV and fridge in your home

LG Electronics is accelerating its transformation: LG Electronics is transforming from a home appliance maker to a technology powerhouse. The company is expanding into recurring services and business-to-business solutions. LG is also investing heavily in AI infrastructure and robotics. This strategic shift aims to build stable, high-margin businesses. The vision includes a 'Zero Labor Home' where robots support human life. Seoul, South Korea: For decades, LG Electronics was defined by the products that sat quietly in people's homes -- refrigerators humming in kitchens, washing machines spinning in utility rooms and televisions dominating living rooms. Today, the South Korean company is trying to redefine itself. At a series of briefings with reporters in Seoul this month, LG executives outlined a future that stretches well beyond traditional consumer electronics. The company is increasingly positioning itself as a provider of recurring services, a business-to-business technology partner and, eventually, a player in the emerging world of physical AI and home robotics. LG's push into higher-quality revenue streams has been continuing to gain traction, with its B2B business generating about Rs 398 billion in first-quarter sales -- up 1% from a year earlier and 19% sequentially -- to account for 36% of total revenue, while its subscription business maintained double-digit growth. The shift reflects a broader effort by LG to reduce its reliance on cyclical consumer spending and build steadier, higher-margin businesses around contracts, subscriptions and infrastructure. Building stability beyond consumer cyclesRatings agency S&P recently pointed to three forces reshaping LG's earnings profile. The first is resilience within its core home appliance business. Despite economic uncertainty, LG's premium positioning has helped shield profitability from the volatility that typically affects mass-market hardware manufacturers. The second is an increasingly important subscription business. LG's appliance subscription model generated around $1.5 billion in annual revenue after expanding by more than 75% in 2024, according to S&P. Unlike conventional rentals, the model is designed to offer flexibility. Consumers can lease products bundled with maintenance services, but they are not necessarily excluded from ownership. "Consumers can own the product because we also provide financial support," Aeron Kim, Leader of IR Communication Team at LG Electronics told reporters in Seoul. "They can rent it, but if they want to own it, we can also provide a discount. Eventually, ownership of the product can transfer to the consumer." The structure varies by market. In South Korea, LG often contracts directly with customers through its company-operated Best Shop network. Elsewhere, third-party distributors can offer subscription contracts while LG continues to provide after-sales maintenance. "It depends on the market condition," the executive said. "Cultural differences and macroeconomic conditions influence this business model quite heavily. In Korea, this model works better in dense urban housing environments such as studios, apartments and villas. In those cities, younger generations often move from house to house and may prefer built-in products or rental models rather than owning large appliances," Kim added. Third, the company's growing focus on B2B businesses, including vehicle components and HVAC, provided a steadier flow of long-term contractual income, helping cushion its financial performance against swings in consumer demand. The B2B growth engineBehind the subscription push lies an even bigger strategic shift. LG increasingly sees its future in business-to-business markets. Vehicle components, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, smart factory technologies and AI infrastructure have become central pillars of its growth strategy. Unlike consumer purchases, which fluctuate with sentiment and economic conditions, B2B businesses generate longer-term revenue through contracts and recurring relationships. Construction companies, for instance, increasingly require integrated solutions rather than standalone appliances. LG says its ability to offer built-in appliances alongside AI-enabled home technologies provides a competitive advantage. For overseas markets, the company has developed region-specific solutions. In North America, builder customers are being offered LG ThinQ Pro, a platform that integrates and manages home appliances and HVAC systems within residential developments. The same capabilities are increasingly being marketed to commercial customers seeking connected buildings and energy-efficient infrastructure. Enter physical AIPerhaps the clearest sign of LG's ambitions lies in robotics. The company, which has spent years developing cleaning robots, autonomous mobile robots and commercial automation technologies, is now preparing for what executives describe as the next frontier: robots designed for the home. The effort gained momentum after LG unveiled its commercialization roadmap at CES 2026. Youngjae Kim, Leader of Robotics Platform Advanced Research Task at LG Electronics acknowledged that truly versatile household robots remain years away. Commercialisation is unlikely before 2030, the executive said, given the safety requirements and complexity of home environments. But advances in artificial intelligence are accelerating development timelines. "The home is the most personal and complex environment, with every space being different," said Youngjae Kim. "Therefore, we plan to systematically prepare for the commercialization of home robots by leveraging our hardware technologies and continuously validating robot data through real-world demonstrations and simulations." LG argues that decades of experience in consumer appliances provide an advantage. "We believe this is an area where LG can offer a unique competitive advantage, built on more than 60 years of experience in home appliances," the executive said. "Over the decades, we have developed a deep understanding of home environments, consumer behavior, and how people interact with everyday appliances." While healthcare and industrial robotics often attract greater attention, LG believes the home remains one of the least understood yet potentially largest robotics markets. Betting on the components behind robotsLG's ambitions extend beyond building robots themselves. The company is also investing in actuators -- the motors and mechanical systems that enable robots to move. Executives described actuators as one of the most attractive opportunities within the broader robotics value chain. "According to some market researchers, actuators can account for around 40 to 60 percent of a robot's cost or key components," an executive told reporters. "This means the actuator market has strong potential." LG recently introduced its actuator brand, Axium, as investors increasingly focus on companies positioned within the emerging humanoid robot supply chain. The company believes its long-standing expertise in motors and precision components can translate into competitive advantages in robotics. Cooling the AI boomAnother opportunity sits far away from the consumer home. As global technology companies race to build AI infrastructure, the demand for sophisticated cooling systems has surged. LG is developing large-scale chillers and liquid cooling technologies, including coolant distribution units (CDUs), aimed at AI data centres. The ability to offer both traditional air cooling and advanced liquid cooling systems could help LG secure positions within the supply chains of major technology companies building next-generation computing infrastructure. The Nvidia connectionLG's growing ambitions have also drawn the attention of Nvidia. Earlier this month, Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang said the US chipmaker was working with LG Group on humanoid robots and future data centres. "We are working with them in motor technology as well as mechanical systems so that we can bring together humanoid robotics and the future of robotics," Huang told reporters in Seoul after meeting LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo. For LG, the partnership offers validation as it seeks to establish credibility in sectors increasingly shaped by AI. For now, refrigerators and televisions still account for much of LG's identity and revenue. But, executives increasingly describe the company in different terms -- not simply as an appliance maker, but as a technology platform spanning recurring services, industrial systems, AI infrastructure and, eventually, robots designed to live alongside the consumers it has served for generations. (The writer was in Seoul, South Korea on the invitation of LG Electronics)

LG envisions Zero Labor Home powered by Physical AI and CLOiD robot ecosystem

LG Electronics is extending Physical AI from factory environments into residential spaces with its LG CLOiD™ robot, first unveiled at CES 2026. The company's robotics strategy is based on a deep understanding of living environments across homes, mobility, commercial sites, and industrial settings, supported by core robotics technologies and a group-wide Physical AI ecosystem. Four interconnected pillars of Physical AI LG's Physical AI approach is built on four interconnected pillars that form its technological backbone and enable AI intelligence to connect with real-world physical action: * Decades of consumer insights and operational data from millions of connected home appliances worldwide * Over 20 years of robotics development across residential, commercial, and industrial environments * Core robotics technologies, including actuators, motors, and precision motion systems that enable physical interaction with the real world * A group-wide Physical AI ecosystem enabled through collaboration across LG companies These four pillars work together to connect AI intelligence with physical execution in real environments. Vision of the "Zero Labor Home" LG is developing a long-term concept called the Zero Labor Home. In this future model, intelligent robots, connected appliances, and AI orchestration systems work together to manage household tasks with minimal human intervention. The system is designed to understand user routines, anticipate needs, and perform actions autonomously. The goal is to reduce manual effort in daily household activities and provide users with more time for personal and family use. LG CLOiD robot in the home ecosystem The LG CLOiD™ robot is positioned as a key step toward this vision. It works in integration with the LG ThinQ platform and is designed to assist with everyday household activities while acting as a physical interface between AI intelligence and the home environment. The robot is intended to: * Support daily household tasks * Operate within the connected ThinQ ecosystem * Bridge AI systems with physical home environments Deep expertise in home and robotics environments Home environment expertise: LG has long-term experience in home appliances, supported by large-scale data from connected devices. Combined with the ThinQ ecosystem, this provides detailed understanding of user routines and behavior patterns. More than 20 years of robotics development: Since introducing its first cleaning robot in 2003, LG has expanded its robotics work into commercial, logistics, and industrial sectors. The company has accumulated over 20 years of real-world operational data from diverse environments. Core hardware technologies: LG's robotics systems are built on advanced hardware including actuators, motors, and precision motion technologies that allow machines to move, interact, and operate in physical spaces. Group-wide Physical AI ecosystem: LG has developed an integrated ecosystem connecting perception, intelligence, and physical action through LG AI Research (EXAONE AI), LG Innotek (sensing and vision), ROBOSTAR (industrial robotics), LG Energy Solution (batteries), LG CNS (software integration), and LG Electronics (home appliances). This system is further strengthened by LG's smart factory operations, where robotics, digital twins, autonomous logistics, and AI-based automation are already deployed at scale, generating continuous operational data and validation.

LG details AI Home roadmap toward Zero Labor Home ecosystem

LG Electronics (LG) has outlined its vision for AI Home experiences, presenting a roadmap toward a "Zero Labor Home" where intelligent technologies reduce household effort and support everyday activities. The company said future homes should move beyond simply connecting devices and instead be able to understand people, anticipate their needs, and take action on their behalf. To achieve this, LG is building an AI Home ecosystem based on three core pillars: AI-powered appliances, ThinQ AI Orchestration, and autonomous home robots. These technologies form the foundation of the ThinQ AI Universe, which LG describes as an autonomous, hyper-connected, and deeply personalized spatial operating system. Built on the company's hardware technologies and powered by its Affectionate Intelligence approach, the ecosystem is designed to learn household routines, coordinate devices, and reduce friction across the home. Three pillars of LG's AI Home ecosystem AI-powered appliances LG said its next-generation appliances combine AI-enhanced hardware technologies with AI embedded into core components. This allows appliances to understand usage patterns, optimize performance, and provide personalized care. As an example, refrigerators can learn household routines and proactively adjust cooling cycles to help preserve freshness while reducing energy consumption. ThinQ AI Orchestration ThinQ AI Orchestration serves as the central intelligence layer of the AI Home ecosystem. Through a centralized generative AI platform, it coordinates devices, services, and spaces across the home. According to LG, the platform goes beyond device connectivity by understanding context, anticipating needs, and enabling personalized experiences through natural interactions. Autonomous home robots LG's autonomous home robots extend intelligence into the physical environment by acting as AI-powered agents capable of performing household tasks and interacting with users. The company said solutions such as LG CLOiD represent its vision of Physical AI in the home and are intended to support the broader Zero Labor Home concept. ThinQ AI roadmap LG also outlined the development path of the ThinQ platform and its progression toward a more connected and automated home environment. Phase 1: Reactive Automation In its initial phase, LG ThinQ functioned as a smartphone-based remote-control platform. Users could monitor appliances through localized Wi-Fi connections, perform basic on/off operations, and access remote troubleshooting through Smart Diagnosis. Phase 2: Continuous Adaptability The second phase introduced ThinQ UP and over-the-air software updates, enabling appliances to continue evolving after purchase. LG said appliances can adapt to user habits over time and provide increasingly personalized performance. ThinQ Care further analyzes usage patterns and provides proactive guidance before potential issues arise. Phase 3: The Orchestrated Universe The latest phase is powered by the generative AI-enabled ThinQ ON hub and integrated with Athom's open ecosystem, Homey. LG said the platform supports more than 50,000 devices across hundreds of brands. By interpreting natural conversational context, the system can coordinate unified home actions and create a personalized living environment with limited manual intervention. LG CLOiD and Physical AI LG highlighted CLOiD as a home-focused autonomous AI agent unveiled at CES 2026. Powered by an advanced spatial vision engine, CLOiD can navigate homes autonomously and perform physical household tasks. Through integration with the ThinQ ON hub, the robot acts as a physical extension of the digital home environment and can coordinate with connected appliances. Examples provided by LG include automatically starting washer and dryer cycles and preparing workout clothes and towels before a homeowner arrives. CLOiD's movement system is powered by LG Actuator AXIUM, a modular actuator platform described by the company as the robot's "joints and muscles." The platform combines the motor, reducer, and drive into a compact all-in-one unit designed to provide precise control, space efficiency, and optimized performance. India manufacturing and localization plans LG also highlighted India as part of its broader AI Home strategy, citing growing adoption of premium appliances across metro markets. The company said its manufacturing facilities in India are integrated into its global AI roadmap, allowing next-generation components to be localized and scaled. This is expected to support wider deployment of AI-powered washing machines, refrigerators, air conditioners, and cooking systems for Indian households. Speaking on the announcement, Young Min Hwang, Vice President, Home Appliance Solution, LG Electronics India Limited, said: India is entering a transformative phase of home appliance premiumization, driven by rising household incomes, rapid urbanization, and a growing consumer preference to modernize living spaces. Today's Indian consumers are moving beyond basic functionality and are increasingly looking for intelligent, connected solutions that bring us closer to the vision of a 'Zero Labor Home' ecosystem. We are seeing strong momentum in this segment across product categories. Our premium products are witnessing increased adoption as families prioritize advanced, hyper-connected features powered by AI.

Why LG is making its own robot joints: What that actually means

The dead graveyard of smart home robots that proved smarter than you hoped and more useless than you imagined is long and includes everything from Honda's ASIMO to Sony's AIBO when it stopped playing fetch and instead became a novelty toy. And a whole lot of concepts showcased every year at CES that could do no more than carry a tray from point A to B within the confines of the lab where they were tested. LG understands that issue, and that's why the most important aspect of its new home robot named CLOiD, unveiled at CES 2026, is not its AI. It's the part that nobody bothers reading past: LG Actuator AXIUM. Also read: LG brings its AI Home vision to India: Promises appliances that think ahead An actuator is the piece of hardware that converts an electrical signal into mechanical force. This means it's responsible for turning robotic motion from a theoretical idea into something real and tangible - from information processing to actual physical movements. Most home robots get those components as an afterthought from third-party providers, leaving developers with a range of pre-designed solutions and limitations tied to them, including cost and size. LG chose the other way and designed its proprietary unit, combining motor, drive system, and gearbox into one compact package. And here is where the reasoning behind the strategy becomes apparent. If we look at Apple, going silicon independent has benefitted them a lot in terms of control over the product. However, the primary advantage of doing so was vertical integration; by being in charge of both the hardware and software of its chips, Apple can design both to fit each other perfectly, which cannot be achieved otherwise. In a similar way, LG using proprietary actuators to control the movement of its CLOiD robot precisely would allow them to not be limited to anything a manufacturer may dictate. Also read: Portable AC vs central AC: Which one is better for your home and why It should be noted that a robot for home use has many more problems to face than a robot working in the industry. Firstly, an industrial environment has high predictability - there are smooth floors, a specific route that the robot follows, and no children running all around. A domestic environment will have carpets on the floor, messiness, pets, and other sources of unpredictability. In addition, a robot needs to work silently, be small, and perform its actions without requiring any permissions from the owner. LG's integration of CLOiD with the ThinQ ON hub makes it another step towards a more developed device. The robot cannot operate alone - it is part of the whole domestic network and communicates with other devices to perform pre-washing before your arrival and coordinate actions automatically without any human involvement. An actuator provides the necessary physical implementation for this software-based solution. Whether LG can ship CLOiD at a price point that makes it a real consumer product rather than a premium showpiece is the question only time will answer. But the hardware underneath it is the most technically serious thing a home appliance company has done with robotics yet.

LG brings its AI Home vision to India: Promises appliances that think ahead

LG's AI Home concept has finally made its way into India this week, with a roadmap in which LG's household appliances can go beyond being command-driven units and become devices which can learn about the needs of its users, act in a coordinated manner and minimize the effort involved in managing a house. In an event conducted in conjunction with a press tour, LG has made clear the idea behind this new venture, and highlighted India not only as a market but also as a partner in this global endeavor to manufacture AI-based home appliances. Also read: Portable AC vs central AC: Which one is better for your home and why LG's ThinQ - its artificial intelligence platform - according to the company, is at present entering into its third evolution stage. While the first stage involved simple remote operations such as controlling the AC via your smartphone, the second involved learning about the pattern of use through which the appliance could be used. It is in the third stage that LG claims its greatest innovations, where a generative artificial intelligence platform helps coordinate multiple devices together without the need for managing individual appliances. At the heart of this effort is the ThinQ ON platform, which links together the appliances by integrating them via Homey's platform, allowing the technology to be compatible with 50,000+ devices from more than 1,000 brands. The goal is to use ThinQ as the underlying system for a house with a mix of brands rather than the closed-loop solution it would become if all the devices came from LG. Also read: Want lower AC bills? Here is unknown truth about using ceiling fan alongside your AC Specifically for India, LG highlighted its manufacturing bases at Greater Noida and Pune and the upcoming one in Sri City, all of which are a part of LG's global roadmap for developing and shipping artificial intelligence devices. LG claims that its AI Wash 2.0 technology and new-age components are part of the plan for these factories, implying more than mere assembly work here. What LG is essentially saying is that the smart home concept fell flat last time around due to the lack of coordination between devices. A smart thermostat learning your routines and a timer-based washing machine may be useful in their own right. But the real worth lies in the intelligence lying above these individual gadgets and the coordination between them as one system. Also read: Best phones for creators under Rs 50000