The government has announced its intention to strengthen investment in physical artificial intelligence (AI).
On the morning of July 18, Ryu Jemyoung, the Second Vice Minister of Science and ICT, delivered congratulatory remarks at the "Physical AI Global Alliance Colloquium" held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. He stated, "Physical AI is being highlighted as a game changer in future AI technology following generative AI," and revealed that the government plans to launch full-scale "priming investments."
He further explained, "The AI revolution is undergoing a paradigm shift, expanding beyond the digital realm into the real world."
Physical AI refers to AI systems that learn from their surrounding environment and make decisions and act autonomously. These systems interact directly with the real world, making decisions and taking action based on real-world information. Humanoid robots that behave like humans and autonomous vehicles are cited as representative industries within physical AI.
Vice Minister Ryu stated, "Unprecedented large-scale investments in physical AI are being made by global big tech companies such as Nvidia, and major countries are also responding rapidly." He added, "The ripple effects brought about by physical AI will become a new turning point, driving innovation not only in industry but also in our daily lives and society as a whole."
He continued, "At this point, Korea, which has strengths in the field of physical AI, must boldly take on the challenge of opening new markets and ecosystems." He emphasized the need to quickly secure global competitiveness by developing core foundational technologies in physical AI?such as foundation models, large action models (LAM), and simulators?and by securing related data.
Vice Minister Ryu mentioned that, with the help of the National Assembly, the supplementary budget now includes funding for physical AI, and reiterated that "the government also plans to proceed with full-scale priming investments." He added, "As the ministry overseeing AI, the Ministry of Science and ICT will actively cooperate with relevant ministries to ensure that physical AI is utilized in convergence with various sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, and shipbuilding, thereby driving innovation."
He also stated, "We will actively communicate with the domestic industry and research communities, and significantly strengthen global cooperation so that Korea can lead in the field of physical AI and rise to become one of the world's top three AI powers."
The event was co-hosted by the National Assembly, Democratic Party lawmaker Chung Dongyoung, and People Power Party lawmaker Choi Hyungdoo, and organized by the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA). Experts including Lee Kwanghyung, President of KAIST; Cho Joonhee, President of the Artificial Intelligence Software Industry Association; Ryu Deoksan, Professor at Jeonbuk National University; Park Yoonkyu, President of NIPA; and Yang Jinhong, CEO of Next Studio, participated in the event.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
