South Korea Unveils Vision for Global AI Hub

By Kang Yoon-seung

SEOUL, May 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Thursday unveiled its vision to launch the Global AI Hub in the country aimed at bringing together the artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities of global organizations to address challenges, such as disease control and climate change.

The government announced the plan to establish the Global AI Hub, which seeks to promote cross-border cooperation in the AI sector with nine global organizations and five multilateral development banks, according to the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

The hub, which will cooperate with organizations including the International Labour Organization and the World Health Organization, will serve as a platform to provide AI-based solutions to pending issues under the vision of "AI for All, AI to Solve Global Challenges."

"The Global AI Hub will be an international campus where international organizations, such as the United Nations, will pursue joint projects and cooperation related to AI," Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said.

"The hub will provide AI infrastructure, including computing, data and cloud systems, that organizations can share," he added.

"Based on such efforts, international bodies will be able to develop AI-based solutions to address issues related to health care, immigration, labor and natural disasters, while establishing joint rules and standards for AI usage," the minister said.

The finance ministry said related organizations will seek to devise detailed implementation plans through working group meetings and maintain close coordination for the successful launch of the hub.

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok also hailed the vision, saying the Global AI Hub will mark the beginning of the international community's most pragmatic and strongest solidarity, just like the United Nations that has pursued co-prosperity in the face of various challenges.

"The Republic of Korea will be at the forefront of this solidarity and innovation," he said.

Kim said South Korea will focus on three major tasks -- establishing safe and reliable AI norms and standards, resolving global challenges like infectious diseases and climate change, and bridging the AI divide, a gap between those who can take advantage of AI and those who are left behind.