WIRobotics: From Daily Aid to Humanoid Future at CES 2026

LAS VEGAS, NV – January 09, 2026 – Amid the dazzling spectacle of futuristic gadgets at CES 2026, a booth from South Korean firm WIRobotics is drawing a crowd for two very different, yet deeply connected, reasons. On one side, attendees are trying on a sleek, lightweight wearable device that is already changing lives. On the other, a sophisticated humanoid robot is hinting at a future where AI takes physical form. This two-pronged exhibition is no accident; it is the public face of a deliberate and ambitious strategy to conquer both the present and future of the robotics industry.

Founded in 2021, WIRobotics is showcasing a striking duality. The company is demonstrating its commercially successful wearable robot, WIM S, a practical tool for daily mobility, while simultaneously capturing the imagination of the tech world with its advanced humanoid, ALLEX, which has attracted the attention of global technology leaders.

The Quiet Revolution in Wearable Robotics

While many CES exhibits feature speculative prototypes, the WIRobotics WIM S is a portrait of a mature, market-tested product. An upgraded version of a device that has been commercially available since 2023, the WIM S represents a quiet revolution in assistive technology. The company’s early market entry has given it a three-year head start on many competitors, allowing it to refine its product based on real-world feedback.

This real-world validation was on full display, as users who purchased the original WIM in 2024 reportedly visited the booth to experience the upgrades and share stories of its impact. The device’s design philosophy focuses on a natural, comfortable fit, providing just enough assistance to make a difference without feeling obtrusive. Weighing a mere 1.6 kg—significantly lighter than rival exoskeletons that have historically weighed 3-4 kg—and capable of being put on or taken off in under 30 seconds, the WIM S is built for sustained, everyday use.

Its capabilities are powered by an AI that analyzes a user’s gait in real-time, providing personalized coaching and adjusting support across four distinct modes, including “Hiking” for slopes and “Care” for rehabilitation. This intelligent assistance can reduce the energy required for walking on level ground by up to 20%. The impact is tangible; one four-week study involving seniors with an average age of 78.5 years showed significant improvements in physical function, with their collective “gait age” effectively dropping to 54 years old.

Since 2025, WIRobotics has expanded its sales of the WIM series beyond its native South Korea, establishing a strong presence in the healthcare and senior exercise markets of Europe, China, and Japan. This global traction is happening within a rapidly expanding market. The wearable robotic exoskeleton sector, valued at USD 3.52 billion in 2026, is projected to surge to over USD 64 billion by 2034, and WIRobotics has firmly positioned itself as a leading innovator.

ALLEX and the High-Stakes Humanoid Race

Across the booth from the practical, life-enhancing WIM S, the humanoid robot ALLEX offers a glimpse into a more distant, but rapidly approaching, horizon. Unveiled in the summer of 2025, the upper-body humanoid is being demonstrated through live movement and interactive displays, but the real story is happening in the conversations behind the scenes.

WIRobotics confirmed it is in active discussions with global AI and technology giants including NVIDIA, Meta, and Amazon regarding potential collaborations and purchase interest in ALLEX. For a company in the fiercely competitive humanoid space—a field populated by titans like Boston Dynamics and ambitious startups like Figure AI and Sanctuary AI—this level of interest from big tech is a monumental validation. It suggests that ALLEX possesses technical capabilities or a strategic potential that has captured the attention of the very companies building the world’s most advanced AI models.

While WIRobotics is keeping the specific details of these discussions under wraps, the implications are clear. A partnership with a company like NVIDIA could provide unparalleled access to computational power and AI expertise, while collaboration with Meta or Amazon could pave the way for integrating humanoids into future consumer platforms or vast logistics networks. The company states that while WIM is designed to expand human mobility, ALLEX is designed to expand the human experience, hinting at a focus on advanced interaction and cognitive tasks.

A Dual Strategy for Robotic Dominance

What makes WIRobotics a standout at CES 2026 is not just the quality of its individual products, but the coherence of its dual strategy. Many robotics firms focus on either near-term commercial products or long-term, high-risk research. WIRobotics is aggressively pursuing both, creating a powerful, self-reinforcing cycle. The commercial success and revenue generated by the WIM series provide a stable financial foundation to fund the ambitious, capital-intensive development of ALLEX.

This approach also creates powerful synergies in research and development. The expertise in user-centered design, lightweight actuators, and power efficiency honed for the WIM wearable directly informs the engineering challenges of creating a capable humanoid. Conversely, advancements in AI and complex motor control for ALLEX could eventually trickle down to create even more sophisticated and intuitive assistive devices.

This strategy is clearly articulated by the company’s leadership. “CES 2026 is an important opportunity for WIRobotics to present both robotics technologies designed for everyday life and advanced robotic technologies for the future,” stated Co-CEO Younbaek Lee. “Building on the real-world experience we have accumulated through wearable robots and the growing interest in our humanoid robotics, we aim to create new possibilities for robotics through collaboration with global technology companies.”

This vision, backed by a string of CES Innovation Awards from 2024 through 2026, demonstrates a rare ability to execute on both practical market needs and visionary technological goals. By proving its products in the real world while simultaneously reaching for the future, WIRobotics is building a formidable and diversified presence in the global robotics landscape, charting a course toward a future where, as their vision suggests, there may be one robot for every person.