Vol. 10 [UT Member Interview]🎤Hyunmin "Harrison" Cho (Electrical and Computer Engineering '11)

In this issue, we feature an interview with Hyunmin "Harrison" Cho (Electrical and Computer Engineering ’11), who continues to play an active role as General Secretary of our alumni association, focusing on his work and professional expertise.

🎤 Could you introduce your current role, including what you do and the primary focus of your work?
I am the founder and CEO of Ifelse, a startup based in South Korea. We provide services that support the deployment, operation, and maintenance of industrial robots in real-world manufacturing environments. Although we are still a young company, our goal is to help businesses adopt industrial robots more easily and operate them more reliably as we continue to grow.

🎤 What first sparked your interest in your current industry or field of expertise?
After graduating from UT, I spent about eight years at LG Electronics, where I worked on on-device and software technologies in the manufacturing industry. That experience gave me valuable insight into how hardware and software come together and how technology needs to perform in real products and industrial settings. Later, as I watched the rapid rise of AI agents, I came to believe that this transformation would eventually extend beyond the digital world into physical industries and robotics.

🎤 What do you consider the core value of your current profession or field?
I believe the most important value is maintaining a mindset of continuous learning and staying ahead of change. Robotics, AI, and manufacturing are all evolving rapidly, and there is no guarantee that what works today will still be the right answer tomorrow. That is why it is essential to keep up with emerging technologies and constantly think about how they can create real value in industrial environments.

🎤 What would you say is your greatest professional strength or area of expertise?
I consider my strength to be in the on-device space, where hardware and software come together. Rather than focusing only on software, I pay close attention to how equipment actually operates in the field, how it is updated, and how it should be maintained when issues arise.

At my current company, we apply this perspective by viewing industrial robots not simply as individual machines, but as operational systems that require continuous management and improvement. BotVector is also evolving into a platform that enables fleet updates, monitoring, predictive maintenance, and integrated operations for industrial robots.

🎤 Since you began your career, what has been the most significant change in your field?
The biggest change has been the rapid shift of AI from research labs and limited software applications into the core of real-world industries and product operations. In the past, automation was largely about repeating predefined rules. Today, AI is increasingly capable of understanding data, interpreting situations, and recommending the next course of action. This transformation is having a profound impact on manufacturing and the robotics industry as well.

🎤 How do you see AI influencing your work and your industry today?
AI is having a tremendous impact. In particular, I believe the advancement of AI agents is expanding beyond digital workflows into the realm of Physical AI, including robotics and other physical systems. The robots of the future will not simply repeat predefined tasks; they will become intelligent systems that are operated and managed based on real-time data from the field.

That is exactly where our company is focused. For industrial robots to operate reliably in real-world environments, the supporting infrastructure for software updates, monitoring, predictive failure detection, and maintenance must continue to evolve. I believe AI will become a critical tool for making those processes more efficient and intelligent.

🎤 At the same time, what opportunities does AI create, and what should the industry be mindful of?
AI undoubtedly creates tremendous opportunities, but I do not believe we should simply be swept along by the speed of technological change. It is important to maintain our own philosophy and values while adapting quickly to new developments. In industrial environments, stability, accountability, and reliability are just as important as efficiency. When adopting AI, we must also consider whether it can be used sustainably and responsibly in real-world operations.

🎤 How do you continue to develop your expertise and leadership in such a rapidly changing environment?
I believe expertise is built through continuous learning and validation. I try to stay up to date with new technologies while also verifying what they truly mean for customers and real-world operations.
From a leadership perspective, I believe it is more important to create an environment where the team can understand problems together and make better decisions than to assume that one person has all the answers.

🎤 Is there a meaningful connection between your current work and Texas?
Our company is currently exploring the possibility of establishing a U.S. entity, and if we move forward, Austin, Texas, is one of the leading candidates for our office location. In 2026, we were selected to participate in the Plug and Play accelerator program in the United States, where we also connected with the Advanced Manufacturing vertical in Austin.

I also see Texas—particularly Austin—as a major hub for manufacturing, robotics, AI, semiconductors, mobility, and the talent that drives these industries. Global companies such as Amazon, Tesla, and Google all have a strong presence in Texas, and the state offers a solid industrial foundation for robotics and manufacturing automation. On a personal level, it is especially meaningful to think that the connections I built through UT may once again lead me back to Texas in the next stage of my career and business.

🎤 Looking ahead, where do you see opportunities to strengthen collaboration between South Korea and Texas in your field?
South Korea has exceptional strengths in manufacturing and hardware production, while Texas is rapidly emerging as a center for advanced manufacturing, AI, robotics, semiconductors, and mobility. I believe there are significant opportunities for collaboration between the two regions, particularly in industrial robotics and manufacturing automation.

If South Korea's deep manufacturing expertise can be combined with Texas's global industrial network, I believe we can develop strong models for deploying and operating robots in real-world industrial settings. I hope our company can contribute to building those connections.

🎤 Over the next few years, what kind of impact would you like to make in your industry?
It may sound ambitious, but my ultimate goal is to make a positive contribution to society. Through technology and business, I hope to solve real challenges in industrial environments, create meaningful opportunities for the people I work with, and build a company that delivers tangible value to its customers. In the rapidly evolving fields of robotics and AI, I want to use technology in ways that genuinely benefit people.