Daedong's Kioti RX7340 tractor / Korea Times photo by Nam Hyun-woo

LAS VEGAS — Korean mid-sized agriculture machinery firm Daedong is seeking to expand its presence in the global marketplace, showcasing its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tractors, AI plant box and other agricultural machinery at CES 2025 in Las Vegas.

At its booth on Friday (local time), Daedong showcased its RX series utility tractor, which can drive and perform farming tasks autonomously using on-device AI. According to the company, the advanced Kioti tractor achieves level-4.5 autonomous driving, as defined by the automated farming standards set by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards in 2022.

Daedong's booth at CES 2025 / Korea Times photo by Nam Hyun-woo

In addition to the RX series, several Daedong tractors sold under the Kioti brand in North America are equipped with vision sensors that autonomously create boundary maps without human input. These tractors can also automatically detect attachments and determine the tasks to be performed, enabling them to make independent decisions during operation.

According to a Daedong official at the booth, self-driving Kioti tractors are now available only in Korea but the company will soon expand sales to international markets. Starting in 2026, the tractors will be operable remotely via the company's connectivity app.

The app, Daedong Connect, will also provide chat-based assistance related to farming via a generative AI system specialized in agriculture and machinery.

John Deere's 460 P-Tier autonomous articulated dump truck is displayed at the company's booth at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Thursday (local time). Korea Times photo by Nam Hyun-woo

Daedong's autonomous tractor technology was somewhat similar to the innovations showcased by John Deere, the world's largest farm equipment manufacturer, at CES 2025.

At its booth, John Deere displayed a driverless fleet including its massive 460 P-Tier autonomous articulated dump truck. While Daedong is set to debut its app-control next year, John Deere said the truck already allows its operator to design and control the truck's missions with an app.

Daedong is nicknamed the Tesla of agriculture in Korea, but it is a company with heritage. Headquartered in Daegu, it was established in 1947 as a machinery shop that produced Korea's first domestically produced engine in 1949. In 2021, the company launched Korea's first remote-controlled and autonomous driving tractor, the HX series, and now more than 70 percent of its annual revenue is generated from the North American market.

At its first-ever CES, Daedong's AI Plant Box won the CES 2025 Innovation Award. This AI-driven home-farming appliance uses a capsule-based system to automatically regulate environmental factors such as temperature, humidity and water supply, optimizing plant growth and allowing users to harvest healthy vegetables tailored to their dietary needs.

Daedong's plant box gained additional attention at CES 2025 because it was exhibited at the booth of Samsung Electronics, one of the most crowded at the entire show.

The plant box was integrated as a third-party device into Samsung's SmartThings ecosystem. If Samsung's health care AI detects poor sleep quality, it prompts the plant box to recommend growing lettuce, known for its sleep-enhancing properties.

Daedong's AI Plant Box / Captured from Daedong's website

Another Korean midsize company recognized for its technology is Ceragem, a maker of health care appliances.

During CES 2025, LG Electronics' Head of Home Appliances and Air Solutions, Lyu Jae-cheol, visited Ceragem's booth and later mentioned in a press conference that he was "looking for a collaboration opportunity with Ceragem regarding healthcare solutions."

“Since Ceragem's smart bed appears to be related to a sleep quality solution that we are currently working on, myself and the Ceragem CEO discussed our shared interests,” Lyu said during the press conference on Thursday.

Ceragem showcased a range of health care appliances, including massage chairs and therapeutic beds, featuring sleek, modern designs that resembled stylish home furniture rather than conventional health care equipment.

An official at Ceragem's booth said the company is happy to hear about LG's interests, but no tangible talks are going on.

Ceragem's showroom at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, titled "My Future Home," shows a living room with home healthcare devices, Tuesday (local time). Courtesy of Ceragem