Korean workers vote to strike as Hyundai plans to deploy Atlas Humanoid robots

Hyundai factory workers in South Korea have voted amongst themselves to go on strike over fears that they could be replaced by humanoid robots. Member workers of the Korean Metal Workers' Union are demanding that they have a say over attempts at automation and deploying AI. They are also asking for a performance bonus equal to about a third of the auto manufacturer's profit.

This new ask equates to about $27,000 for each of its 73,000 workers, as per reports by the Financial Times. The strike by workers comes after Hyundai announced that it plans to deploy Atlas humanoid robots built by its subsidiary, Boston Dynamics, at the automaker's Georgia factory in January.

At the time, the union had vowed that no robots would be allowed to work in the factory. But in May, Hyundai highlighted its ambitious plan to deploy more than 25,000 humanoid robots across its vehicle manufacturing facilities.

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Hyundai has stated that these robots would only handle laborious and hazardous tasks that humans are eager to avoid, but the union countered that they would replace workers and reduce production jobs.

Hyundai's union, which last staged a full strike in 2018, is pushing for higher performance bonuses, citing larger payouts received by Samsung employees following AI-driven profits. Meanwhile, humanoid robots are gaining traction in industry, with Japan Airlines deploying robot baggage handlers at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, China's state postal service using robots to sort mail, and BMW testing humanoid robots at its Leipzig factory for automotive production.