Physical AI company RLWRLD said on Monday it has appointed Carl Choi (칼 최) as its U.S. head to strengthen its U.S. business ahead of unveiling a robotics foundation model in 2026.

RLWRLD operates key hubs in the United States, South Korea and Japan, and over the past 2 years has focused on validating the applicability of robotics foundation models in real industrial sites in South Korea and Japan. The company is developing a robotics foundation model aimed at implementing human-level hand movements, based on high-precision multimodal data collected from sites including manufacturing and logistics. Based on that field validation, it plans to move in earnest to roll out business and expand partnerships in the U.S. market.

Choi most recently served as a partner at Alumni Ventures' deeptech fund, leading investments in AI, robotics and foundational technologies.

At RLWRLD, he will be responsible for building strategic partnerships in robotics, manufacturing and logistics in the United States, along with crafting a North America market entry strategy.

The company also plans to strengthen links with the U.S. startup ecosystem, including venture capital, to identify opportunities for strategic investors, technology partners and business cooperation. It also expects him to serve as RLWRLD's external representative across U.S. industry, media and the broader technology ecosystem.

RLWRLD Chief Executive Ryu Jung-hee (류중희) said, "This appointment is not simply about reinforcing local staffing in the United States, but about creating a bridgehead to connect RLWRLD's technology with the North American industrial ecosystem." He added, "Carl Choi understands the industrial value of RLWRLD's technology, while also knowing well the structure and networks of the U.S. market where we aim to expand in earnest. With this appointment as a catalyst, we will accelerate building long-term industrial partnerships in the United States."

Choi said, "RLWRLD has developed foundation models in a way that is rarely seen in this field. It is differentiated in that a world-class research team trained the model directly alongside industrial partners at real production sites. This approach creates proprietary platform competitiveness and a strong data moat. Going forward, I will clearly communicate this differentiation to the U.S. robotics and industrial sectors, and expand in the United States the kind of deep, long-term partnerships RLWRLD has built in Asia."