"Challenge the World's Difficult Problems Freely" Koo Kwang-mo Establishes AI Dedicated Team

LG Launches AI Think Tank 'LG AI Research Institute'
Professor Lee Hong-rak from University of Michigan Joins as Chief CSAI (Chief AI Scientist)... Bae Kyung-hoon Appointed as First Director to Lead 'Young Blood' Team Born in 1970s

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyewon] LG Group has established an artificial intelligence (AI) think tank called 'LG AI Research.' The important task of leading the new organization has been entrusted to two young talents in their early to mid-40s.

On the 7th, LG announced the establishment of LG AI Research, an AI-dedicated organization at the group level, as part of its digital transformation strategy to secure the latest AI core technologies and solve AI challenges.

LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo said in a congratulatory message on the launch, "The purpose of AI pursued by LG is to help make customers' lives more valuable beyond technology," and added, "In this process, I ask LG AI Research to play a key role in representing the group and developing methods for the company’s own transformation and innovation." Chairman Koo also said, "I will support and cheer for the gathering of the best talents and partners to freely challenge the world's difficult problems and develop into the center of the global AI ecosystem."

Baek Gyeong-hoon, Head of LG AI Research Institute.

LG AI Research studies the latest AI core technologies such as next-generation voice and video recognition and analysis technologies, deep learning-based natural situation recognition and language processing technologies capable of conversation, and data intelligence that predicts optimal decisions through big data analysis. To this end, it will also build a high-performance computing system capable of deep learning research based on large-scale data. Through AI research, it will also play a role in solving challenges within affiliates, such as predicting battery life and capacity and discovering new drug candidate substances. The newly established research institute plans to actively create a global AI ecosystem by securing core technologies jointly in cooperation with global AI research institutions, Seoul National University, the University of Toronto, and others.

LG AI Research involves 16 affiliates including LG Electronics, LG Display, LG Chem, LG Uplus, and LG CNS, and is placed under the LG Management Development Institute. Over three years, it will invest about 200 billion KRW in securing global talent and AI research and development. In particular, LG AI Research plans to attract top global talent by establishing an independent personnel system, evaluation, and compensation system based on the expertise and capabilities of personnel and offering exceptional treatment. For members, it will create an agile and flexible research environment based on agility, allowing them to choose the research they want to pursue rather than fixed teams.

Along with the launch of the research institute, LG recruited Professor Honglak Lee (born 1977) of the University of Michigan, USA, a world-renowned AI scholar who served as a research scientist at Google's AI research organization 'Google Brain.' Professor Lee will take on the newly created 'C-level AI Scientist (CSAI, Chief Scientist of AI)' position, the first of its kind in the industry, responsible for securing AI core technologies and establishing mid- to long-term AI technology strategies. The CSAI earned a Ph.D. in computer science from Stanford University and is a professor in the Department of Computer Engineering at the University of Michigan. He is a world authority in the field of machine learning and was selected as one of the world's top 10 AI researchers by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 2013.

Baek Geun-hoon (born 1976), who led the AI Promotion Team at LG Science Park, was appointed as the head of LG AI Research. Along with the CSAI, he will be responsible for establishing and executing LG's AI strategy as leaders born in the 1970s. LG AI Research plans to recruit heavyweight outstanding talent in the AI field next year as well, expanding the core research personnel to about 100. Led by LG AI Research, customized education programs considering the characteristics of each affiliate's business will be operated to nurture 1,000 AI experts within the group by 2023.

Director Bae said, "We will become a true AI company leading the global market by recruiting the best AI talent and nurturing AI experts within the group," and added, "We will provide AI talents with opportunities to solve various real-world problems and create an environment where talented individuals with excellent capabilities can freely conduct research."

On the morning of the same day, LG AI Research held an 'AI Talk Concert' online to commemorate its launch and discuss the latest AI research achievements. Attendees included Google Research Senior Scientist Quoc Le, Kakao Brain CEO Park Seung-gi, University of Toronto Professor Ted Sergeant, KAIST Distinguished Professor Jeong Song, and Seoul National University Professor Jang Byung-tak.