Hyundai Motor CEO Jose Munoz speaks during a keynote speech at the HMG Tech Forum 2026 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in California on Sept. 17. (Hyundai Motor Group)
Hyundai Motor CEO Jose Munoz speaks during a keynote speech at the HMG Tech Forum 2026 at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in California on Sept. 17. (Hyundai Motor Group)

Hyundai Motor Group is seeking to become a “physical AI company,” developing robotics, self-driving vehicles and the software that connects them, as the South Korean automotive group ramps up its efforts to recruit global technology talent.

“Hyundai is becoming a technology and physical AI company. We are building robots, deploying autonomous vehicles and developing software to make it all work seamlessly,” Hyundai Motor President and CEO Jose Munoz told technology professionals in Silicon Valley, outlining the automaker’s future business direction.

Munoz was speaking at the HMG Tech Forum 2026, held at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in California on Sept. 17-18, bringing senior executives together with engineers and technology professionals as part of its push to recruit talent in artificial intelligence, robotics and other emerging technologies.

The two-day event, held under the theme “Go Beyond Together,” drew about 380 participants, offering them an opportunity to experience the group’s technology vision in areas including AI, robotics, autonomous driving, smart manufacturing, software and hydrogen, while also exploring career opportunities.

The choice of Silicon Valley reflects the group’s push to compete with leading automakers and tech companies for top engineering talent, the group said.

Nine Hyundai Motor Group companies took part, including Hyundai Motor, Kia, their US units, Hyundai America Technical Center, Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, Boston Dynamics, Motional and 42dot.

HMG Tech Talent Forum participants network at the exhibition space during the event held at San Jose McEnery Convention Center in California on Sept. 17. (Hyundai Motor Group)
HMG Tech Talent Forum participants network at the exhibition space during the event held at San Jose McEnery Convention Center in California on Sept. 17. (Hyundai Motor Group)

Muooz was joined in the opening keynote session by Manfred Harrer, president and head of Hyundai Motor Group’s R&D division; Park Min-woo, president and head of the group’s Advanced Vehicle Platform division and CEO of 42dot; and Kim Hye-in, executive vice president and head of Hyundai Motor Group’s human resources division.

“Fundamentals first. Then innovation on top. I believe it is the path that creates products people can trust,” Harrer said. “The question is not physical versus virtual, it’s how we combine decades of real-world engineering experience with the speed of virtual development and AI. This is where I want this organization to lead, not follow.”

Park shared the group’s physical AI vision, centered on systems that continuously learn from data generated by vehicles, factories, robots and other real-world environments.

“The truth is, many of the hardest problems are still unsolved. That's what makes this moment so exciting,” Park said. “We're building a world-class physical AI organization, powered by real-world experience.”

The forum also offered career programs, with recruiters holding one-on-one coffee chat sessions with participants. Candidates from the HMG Global Tech Talent recruitment program, which began in April, were also invited to take part in on-site interviews.


sahn@heraldcorp.com