OpenMind, a startup specializing in robot operating systems (OS) in Silicon Valley, announced that it has signed a technology partnership with cryptography-based verification technology company Succinct and will jointly develop a "privacy-preserving audit system" that verifies robot behavior and work history without revealing personal information.

Modern robots perceive their surroundings and collect data through a variety of sensors, including cameras, microphones, and radar. This process also records the user's identity and personal information, so verifying their work performance through robot operation logs or video data can lead to a risk of personal information leakage.

To address this, the two companies have partnered to apply "Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP)" technology to the robot audit architecture. Zero-knowledge proof is a technology that mathematically proves certain facts without disclosing data. For example, a robot can prove its actions, such as "moving only within authorized areas" or "performing only authorized functions," without the original data. A verifier can verify the authenticity of a result with a short mathematical proof without having to see the robot's original log.

OpenMind integrates the identity, permissions, and policies of robots through its robot network platform, FABRIC. It also employs Susingt's zero-knowledge proof engine to store sensor logs and location records in hash format, proving them tamper-proof. This allows the robot's normal operation to be shared with external verifiers, while actual data is never transmitted externally, protecting both personal information and corporate operational information.

This partnership will equip robots with a structure that allows them to independently verify their actions and performance, and is expected to expand the use of trust-based robots in diverse industries, including manufacturing, logistics, and security. OpenMind stated, "We have laid the technological foundation for enhancing the reliability of robots in environments where people and robots coexist."

Founded by Stanford University bioengineering professor Jan Liphardt, OpenMind has raised approximately $20 million (approximately 27 billion won) in funding with the vision of "enabling all AI-connected robots to operate on a single language and platform." Recently, the company has been rapidly expanding its presence in the physical AI field, conducting joint research with LG Electronics.

“The core of this partnership is to transparently verify robot behavior while fully protecting personal information,” said an OpenMind representative. “Together with Susingt, we will create a technological foundation that will enable the robotics industry to grow based on trust.”