Establishing Research Centers and Opening Cloud Services... Universities Are 'Studying AI Intensively'

SNU Opens Human-Centered AI Research Center
Korea University Boosts Computing Power with Cloud Utilization

Amid the global surge in artificial intelligence (AI), universities in South Korea are also making all-out efforts for AI research and utilization. Seoul National University (SNU) plans to enhance its AI research capabilities and showcase its achievements worldwide by establishing a joint research center with a renowned American university. Korea University is maximizing research efficiency by supporting AI-related research through the cloud without the need for additional equipment.

Researchers from Seoul National University and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in the United States are taking a commemorative photo at the opening ceremony of the 'Seoul National University-CMU Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Research Center' held on the 13th at Seoul National University's Gwanak Campus in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul. Photo by Seoul National University

According to SNU on the 28th, Seoul National University and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) have jointly established and are operating the "SNU-CMU Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Research Center (HCAI Center)" at SNU's Gwanak Campus in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul.

The HCAI Center is Korea's first research center established through collaboration between two world-class universities, aiming to develop and research human-centered AI. SNU plans to join forces with CMU, a global leader in AI, to lead the development of AI technologies that prioritize accessibility, ethics, and social value. The two universities aim to strengthen cooperation to find ways to apply AI beneficially to humans.

Human-centered AI focuses on enhancing human capabilities based on human-machine interaction, involving human intervention during the interaction process. This concept contrasts with autonomous AI, which minimizes human supervision and pursues efficiency through algorithms.

At the opening ceremony on the 13th, the main researchers of the HCAI Center announced their vision to grow the research center into a global innovation hub through cooperation between SNU and CMU. They also introduced their research achievements and explained how human-centered AI can contribute to society. The researchers discussed the future research directions of the center. Professor Kwon Gajin of the Department of Intelligent Information Convergence at SNU's Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology said, "Through research with internationally renowned CMU, we can publicize domestic research achievements worldwide, and from CMU's perspective, the center facilitates exchanges with SNU and discussions on directions. SNU can thereby increase the impact of its research outcomes."

Kim Dong-won, President of Korea University, Kim Jeong-hyun, Dean of the College of Informatics at Korea University, and others are taking photos at the 'Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Cloud Service Launch Ceremony' held on the 20th at Korea University Hana Square Auditorium in Anam-dong, Seongbuk High School, Seoul. Photo by Korea University

Korea University has launched an initiative to activate AI through a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) cloud. On the 20th, Korea University Public Equipment Center held an event at the Korea University Hana Square Auditorium in Anam-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, to launch the "GPU Cloud Service" aimed at innovation in AI and Data Science (DS) fields. GPUs are essential resources for research areas requiring high-performance computing, such as AI, big data analysis, and scientific simulations.

The core function of the GPU cloud service is to support high-performance computing. Researchers can access GPUs through the cloud to perform AI model training, deep learning, and more. Since it is cloud-based, users can apply for and use the service on-demand when needed. Previously, researchers had to purchase GPUs themselves, but now they can use the latest equipment through applications without individual purchases.

This service is provided in the form of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS). Korea University has been working on building the GPU cloud system since early last year and has introduced H100 GPU servers to enable researchers to conduct AI model training, parallel computing, and other research. As a result, researchers can freely use the infrastructure in real-time via the web without individually acquiring expensive GPU equipment. Based on this efficiency, Korea University plans to increase collaboration with domestic and international research institutions and companies to activate industry-academia cooperation through AI-related projects and joint research.

Korea University plans to invest an additional 30 billion KRW over the next 10 years to further strengthen AI research and educational infrastructure. President Kim Dongwon of Korea University said, "Since a university's research competitiveness is determined by 'computing power,' Korea University will proactively respond to this. The GPU cloud service will be a turning point that innovates research and education paradigms beyond a simple research support platform, so we will actively support researchers and students to conduct innovative research in the optimal environment."