South Korea Launches Ambitious Sovereign AI Initiative
Last month, the South Korean government announced a massive investment of $390 million to develop large-scale foundational models through five local companies: LG AI Research, SK Telecom, Naver Cloud, NC AI, and Upstage. This move marks the country's most significant effort yet to reduce reliance on foreign AI technologies and strengthen national security.
Timeline and Details
The initiative was launched in response to growing concerns about data sovereignty and the need for more control over AI development. The government has pledged $530 billion (approximately $390 million) to support the project, which will run for several years. Each company will receive funding based on their progress every six months, with underperformers being cut from the program.
Immediate Impact
The selected companies are already working on developing large language models tailored to South Korean language and culture. LG AI Research is focusing on building a model called ExaOne, which aims to surpass OpenAI's GPT-3 in terms of performance and capabilities. SK Telecom is exploring applications for its model in areas such as customer service and education.
Background Context
South Korea has been actively investing in AI research and development in recent years. The country has identified AI as a key driver of economic growth and national competitiveness. However, concerns about data sovereignty and the need for more control over AI development have led to this ambitious initiative.
What Happens Next
The government will closely monitor the progress of each company every six months, with funding being allocated based on performance. The program is expected to last several years, with the ultimate goal of creating a sovereign AI ecosystem in South Korea. As the project unfolds, it will be interesting to see how these local companies compete with global heavyweights like OpenAI and Google.
Note: NC AI declined to comment for this article.
*This story is developing. Information compiled from Techcrunch reporting.*
