[AI Revolution] "Immediate On-Site Application"... 'Vision AI' Capturing Attention from Samsung and Hyundai Motor

Kim Hyunsoo: "Vision AI for Industrial Sites, Easy and Fast to Implement"
Cumulative Funding Reaches 49 Billion Won... Aiming for IPO Next Year

#. At KT Wiz Park, the home stadium of the KT Wiz professional baseball team in South Korea, artificial intelligence (AI) is used to monitor audience density by section. Approximately 50 closed-circuit (CC) TVs are installed throughout the stadium, each configured with designated areas of interest. The system analyzes video footage in real time by precisely adjusting congestion criteria. The results are displayed intuitively on the electronic scoreboard and the administrator dashboard. Audience safety and convenience at key facilities such as gates, concession stands, and restrooms are enhanced by visualizing congestion levels in green (spacious), yellow (moderate), and red (crowded).

Kim Hyunsoo, CEO of Superb AI, is being interviewed at WeWork Tower in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 9th. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

This system utilizes Superb AI's 'Edge AI' technology. Unlike traditional cloud-based solutions, this approach processes data on-site, minimizing video latency. Superb AI, in collaboration with Professor Kim Heekyung's research team at Ajou University Dental Hospital, also offers a solution that uses smartphone images to detect cavities early and assist specialists with diagnosis.

In a recent interview at Superb AI's office in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, CEO Kim Hyunsoo said, "After working in academia and as an engineer at SK Telecom T-Brain, I realized the need for AI models that could be immediately applied in industrial settings, which led me to start this company." He added, "While language models like ChatGPT are familiar to the public, 'vision (image) AI' is mostly used in business-to-business (B2B) transactions, so it may feel unfamiliar."

He continued, "For example, when installing cameras, we provide consulting based on our accumulated know-how about where to install them and whether a single camera is sufficient, and then apply our platform." He explained, "Since cameras are also installed in robots, we are contributing to robot development as well."

Founded in 2018, Superb AI is a startup specializing in machine learning operations (MLOps) that supports the entire AI development process. Its client list includes more than 100 companies both in South Korea and abroad, such as Samsung, LG Electronics, Qualcomm, Hyundai Motor Company, SK Telecom, and Toyota. The company also has branches in the United States and Japan.

CEO Kim said, "Even without knowledge of coding or machine learning, our intuitive tools allow users to develop and manage AI," and added, "We have a system in place where deep learning models can be created with just a few clicks." He explained that each company requires different types of AI, and new systems must be built each time, but the Superb AI platform alleviates this inconvenience.

Kim Hyunsoo, CEO of Superb AI, is being interviewed on the 9th at WeWork Tower in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

He stated, "In the manufacturing sector, where AI is most widely used for video analysis, safety management and defect inspection are essential. Previously, it took six months just to implement defect detection because each vendor had to create separate use cases, and further time was needed whenever versions were updated." He emphasized, "However, our solution enables users to build training data, perform labeling, train and download models, and deploy them all within a single platform, reducing implementation time to just two weeks. It also allows for flexible responses when requirements change."

'Zero,' which was recently introduced, is a representative industrial vision AI model. Zero is a general-purpose AI model pre-trained on large-scale images and can be used in industrial settings without additional training. For example, if a user inputs 'sort 5mm screws' or simply uploads images of 5mm screws, the AI detects the screws and checks their quantity or defects.

Superb AI plans to pursue an initial public offering (IPO) next year. CEO Kim said, "As of the first half of this year, we have already surpassed last year's annual order volume, and have raised a cumulative total of approximately 49 billion won from Korean and American investors." He added, "We have aimed to double our growth each year compared to the previous year, and we expect to achieve this again without difficulty."