South Korea is gearing up to become a global powerhouse in artificial intelligence (AI) with a bold new mission. On Tuesday, the science ministry in Seoul kicked off a major project to build homegrown AI foundation models. These are powerful, large-scale systems trained on massive amounts of data, capable of handling all sorts of tasks from language processing to image recognition.
The excitement kicked off after the government picked five top local teams back in August to lead the charge. Each team gets hefty support from the state, including access to high-tech resources like graphics processing units (GPUs) valued at 157.6 billion won, or about $113 million. This move is all about boosting South Korea’s AI competitiveness and creating models tailored to the country’s unique needs.
Leading the packs are big names in the AI world: Naver Cloud, Upstage, SK Telecom, NC AI Co., and LG AI Research. At the launch event, Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon urged them to aim high. “We want these companies to push boundaries and develop AI that benefits everyone while growing South Korea’s AI ecosystem,” he said.
Naver Cloud’s head, Kim Yu-won, shared his team’s vision. “We’re focusing on an AI system that fits South Korea’s social and cultural vibes perfectly,” he explained. Meanwhile, LG AI Research leader Lim Yoo-hyung promised big results. “We’re committed to shaping South Korea’s AI future and delivering something our people can truly be proud of,” he added.
This initiative ties into an even bigger plan. Just a day before, South Korea unveiled its National AI Strategy Committee, led by President Lee Jae Myung. The goal? Propel the nation into the world’s top three AI leaders. By investing in indigenous AI models, the country aims to catch up and compete with giants like the US and China.
With these homegrown efforts, South Korea’s AI journey looks set to accelerate, promising innovations that could transform industries and everyday life. Stay tuned as these consortiums roll out their breakthroughs!
