South Korea Launches ₩530 Billion AI Initiative with LG and SKT to Boost Sovereignty
The South Korean government has unveiled an ambitious ₩530 billion initiative to foster AI sovereignty by enhancing local foundational AI models through substantial funding from the Ministry of Science and ICT. Five local companies, including LG AI Research and SK Telecom, have been chosen to reduce reliance on foreign AI technologies and ensure greater control over data.
In a significant move to bolster national capabilities in artificial intelligence, South Korea has announced a substantial ₩530 billion (90 million) funding initiative to advance the development of local AI technologies. The government has tasked five domestic companies with the mission of developing foundational AI models. This initiative, orchestrated by the Ministry of Science and ICT, is designed to reduce the nation's dependency on foreign AI technologies, thereby enhancing its control over critical data.
Among the selected companies are major players like LG AI Research and SK Telecom, which are expected to spearhead the development efforts. The initiative's competitive funding process reflects the South Korean government’s strategic emphasis on fostering a robust domestic AI ecosystem as part of its national technology policy. This move underscores a broader wave of technological investment across the globe as nations race to secure their data sovereignty in an increasingly interconnected digital landscape.
The drive toward AI independence is crucial for South Korea as it seeks to embed AI technologies more deeply into its economic framework, thereby fueling growth across various sectors. This push is not only about reducing reliance on external sources but also about taking a leading role internationally in AI advancements.
The focus on foundational AI models aligns with global trends, where core technology ownership is seen as pivotal for future innovation. As part of the initiative, the selected companies will go through a multi-stage funding competition to qualify for the support needed to develop these foundational technologies.
The Ministry of Science and ICT’s commitment to this initiative highlights South Korea's strategic direction at a time when nations globally are reassessing their technological dependencies. This proactive stance offers a template for others aiming at securing their technological futures in a landscape dominated by rapid AI evolution.
For more details, refer to the original article on dataconomy.com.
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