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South Korean Internet Giant Kakao Launches Major Spin-Off, Unveils New Artificial Intelligence Company “Kakao AI”
According to reports from South Korean media outlet Chosun Ilbo, internet giant Kakao announced that its board of directors has approved a corporate spin-off plan. The company intends to establish a new entity named "Kakao AI" while retaining "Kakao X", with each focusing respectively on artificial intelligence platforms and investments, as well as fintech, content, and mobility services. Under the proposal, the book value of net assets will be allocated between the two companies at a ratio of 36% to 64%. Existing shareholders will receive shares in both entities in proportion to this split. Following the spin-off, Kakao AI will take primary responsibility for KakaoTalk and AI operations. The company plans to upgrade KakaoTalk, which currently serves approximately 50 million users, into an "AI agent-style interface" designed to understand user intent and conversational context. As scheduled, Kakao will convene a special general meeting of shareholders on December 17, complete the corporate separation on January 1, 2027, and proceed with Kakao AI's relisting and Kakao X's change of listing venue on January 27.
Toyota Spin-off Robotics Startup Walden Robotics Completes Approximately $300 Million Seed Funding Round, Valuation Reaches $1.1 Billion
According to Bloomberg, humanoid robot startup Walden Robotics, spun off from Toyota's robot research lab, announced the completion of approximately $300 million in seed funding, reaching a valuation of $1.1 billion, and officially emerging from stealth mode. This round was co-led by Deviation Capital and Toyota Motor Corporation, with Toyota's strategic investment and early venture capital arm also participating. Nvidia, Boeing, AE Ventures, Samsung Ventures, and CoreWeave Ventures participated as investors. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Walden Robotics was founded in January this year. It independently develops hardware, software, and AI models, focusing on building general-purpose humanoid robots capable of continuous learning and evolution in real-world environments, currently primarily deployed in the manufacturing and logistics sectors. The company has launched multiple commercialization projects, including a pilot program at a Toyota factory in North America, where robots work alongside human teams to complete 8-hour shifts daily, handling repetitive tasks such as parts loading and unloading, machine cleaning, and equipment preparation. Morgan Stanley predicts that the global humanoid robot market size is expected to surpass $5 trillion by 2050.
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South Korean Internet Giant Kakao Launches Major Spin-Off, Unveils New Artificial Intelligence Company “Kakao AI”
According to reports from South Korean media outlet Chosun Ilbo, internet giant Kakao announced that its board of directors has approved a corporate spin-off plan. The company intends to establish a new entity named "Kakao AI" while retaining "Kakao X", with each focusing respectively on artificial intelligence platforms and investments, as well as fintech, content, and mobility services. Under the proposal, the book value of net assets will be allocated between the two companies at a ratio of 36% to 64%. Existing shareholders will receive shares in both entities in proportion to this split. Following the spin-off, Kakao AI will take primary responsibility for KakaoTalk and AI operations. The company plans to upgrade KakaoTalk, which currently serves approximately 50 million users, into an "AI agent-style interface" designed to understand user intent and conversational context. As scheduled, Kakao will convene a special general meeting of shareholders on December 17, complete the corporate separation on January 1, 2027, and proceed with Kakao AI's relisting and Kakao X's change of listing venue on January 27.
China Plans to Lift Exit Bans on Manus Founders, Company to Spin Off from Meta and Resume Independent Operations
According to the UK's Financial Times, China plans to lift exit restrictions on the founders of AI agent company Manus. Previously, Manus CEO Xiao Hong and Chief Scientist Ji Yichao were required to travel to Beijing for investigation and were restricted from leaving the country in March this year, as the company's acquisition by Meta for $2 billion was suspected of violating investment regulations. According to two informed sources, Xiao Hong recently told employees that he plans to return to Singapore, where the company's headquarters is located, in the near future. Manus announced this week that it will soon resume independent operations, stating that this move is "part of the separation from Meta to comply with regulatory requirements in specific regions." The divestiture transaction still requires final approval from China's National Development and Reform Commission (the NDRC had halted Meta's acquisition in April).
Toyota Spin-off Robotics Startup Walden Robotics Completes Approximately $300 Million Seed Funding Round, Valuation Reaches $1.1 Billion
According to Bloomberg, humanoid robot startup Walden Robotics, spun off from Toyota's robot research lab, announced the completion of approximately $300 million in seed funding, reaching a valuation of $1.1 billion, and officially emerging from stealth mode. This round was co-led by Deviation Capital and Toyota Motor Corporation, with Toyota's strategic investment and early venture capital arm also participating. Nvidia, Boeing, AE Ventures, Samsung Ventures, and CoreWeave Ventures participated as investors. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Walden Robotics was founded in January this year. It independently develops hardware, software, and AI models, focusing on building general-purpose humanoid robots capable of continuous learning and evolution in real-world environments, currently primarily deployed in the manufacturing and logistics sectors. The company has launched multiple commercialization projects, including a pilot program at a Toyota factory in North America, where robots work alongside human teams to complete 8-hour shifts daily, handling repetitive tasks such as parts loading and unloading, machine cleaning, and equipment preparation. Morgan Stanley predicts that the global humanoid robot market size is expected to surpass $5 trillion by 2050.