Sebastian Seung (Seung Hyun-joon, second from the left), director who attended the system semiconductor vision declaration ceremony held last April, is looking at Lee Jae-yong, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics, who is presenting the 'Semiconductor Vision 2030'.
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyewon] Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong is accelerating 'talent management' by recruiting top experts in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). AI, which is also a core of system semiconductors, is one of the future growth engines of Samsung Electronics that Vice Chairman Lee is dedicating great effort to. He is personally overseeing not only talent acquisition but also the establishment of strategies to foster the AI business. Recently, within just one week, he has been on a relentless schedule, visiting Samsung Electronics' semiconductor research center and home appliance business sites consecutively and presiding over executive meetings.
According to Samsung Electronics on the 24th, Professor Sebastian Seung (Seung Hyun-joon) of Princeton University, a leading scholar in the AI field, has been appointed as the head (president) of Samsung Research, the integrated research organization. Director Seung oversees future new technologies and convergence technology research at 15 global research and development (R&D) centers and 7 AI centers located in 13 countries, including Korea. Samsung Electronics expects Director Seung to play a significant role in strengthening open innovation with world-class advanced researchers and enhancing future technology research capabilities through the recruitment of outstanding talent, based on his academic experience, excellent research skills, and extensive research institution network.
Director Seung is a world-renowned scholar who pioneered brain-based AI research. Since 2018, as the Chief Research Scientist (CRS) of Samsung Research, he has contributed to the establishment of global AI centers and AI talent recruitment through advising on Samsung Electronics' AI strategy and advanced research. Notably, Director Seung is the first recruitment case following Vice Chairman Lee’s announcement of the 'New Samsung Vision' at a national press conference last May, where he expressed the intention to actively select talented external personnel for the company's future. At that time, Vice Chairman Lee emphasized, "Only top-level management with expertise and insight can guarantee survival. Samsung must continue to recruit excellent talent regardless of gender, academic background, or even nationality."
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong is visiting the Samsung Electronics Home Appliance Division on the 23rd to encourage employees.
Samsung Electronics designated AI, 5G, and automotive semiconductors as future growth businesses in 2018 and announced plans for focused development. AI is known to be a field directly overseen by Vice Chairman Lee. After resuming management in 2018, he visited Europe and North America as his first overseas business trip destinations to engage with global AI scholars. In November last year, he also met with Professor Yoshua Bengio, considered one of the four global AI gurus, along with Director Seung, to discuss the future development of the AI industry and Samsung Electronics' AI strategy. During a visit to Samsung Research last year, Vice Chairman Lee expressed strong determination to foster future new businesses including AI, stating, "We must create a new future with technologies that have never existed before. We must prepare thoroughly, continuously challenge ourselves, and succeed."
Director Seung reportedly agreed with Vice Chairman Lee’s management philosophy that "AI competitiveness must be developed more rapidly for the company's future" and decided to devote himself to Samsung Electronics' AI research going forward. At the Samsung Electronics 'System Semiconductor Vision' declaration ceremony in April last year, Director Seung emphasized, "To realize optimized AI technology, brain structures must be integrated into AI technology. Although Korea is still weak in the system semiconductor sector, which is a core component of AI implementation, it has potential that has amazed the world through various technological achievements. With another wise investment, it can lead global prosperity."
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