Spurring Joint Research on Artificial Intelligence
LG Electronics and LG U+ have joined AI One Team, an industry-academic consultative body formed by KT, Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Hanyang University, and the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI). The two companies’ participation is expected to spur joint research on AI, which will enhance national competitiveness in this new sector.
KT announced on June 3 that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with LG Electronics and LG U+ to make Korea the No. 1 nation in artificial intelligence (AI).
On behalf of AI One Team, major officials attended the signing ceremony held at KT Gwanghwamun Building East in Seoul, including Jeon Hong-beom, vice president of KT's AI/DX convergence business division, Park Il-pyeong, chief technology officer of LG Electronics, and Lee Sang-min, vice president of LG U+'s FC division.
AI One Team was launched in February this year with the aim of making Korea the No. 1 country in AI. It consists of five companies and organizations including KT, Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, Hanyang University, KAIST and ETRI. The joining of LG Electronics and LG U+, which are leading companies in the electronics and telecommunication sectors with strong AI capabilities, is expected to help secure technologies in the AI field.
LG Electronics and LG U+ will work together with participating companies and organizations to contribute to solving social issues based on AI capacity, strengthening AI capabilities through sharing of technologies and experiences, creating business results through improving AI competitiveness in products, services, and solutions, and establishing an AI talent development platform that connects industries, academia and research institutions.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, which has emerged as a global issue beyond Korea, KT's communication data and know-how to prevent the spread of infectious diseases will be combined with LG U+'s communication and roaming data. Furthermore, efforts will be made to utilize LG Electronics’ products and AI technology to create a new model for preventing the spread of infectious diseases and risks from a new perspective. In addition to infectious diseases such as COVID-19, the AI One Team will actively utilize AI to solve social problems such as environmental pollution and industrial safety.
With the addition of LG Electronics and LG U+ to KT and Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, AI One Team is planning to boost AI capabilities in more diverse industrial areas, including smart appliances and smart devices, following ICT, smart ships, manufacturing and robots. LG Electronics is studying various AI fields such as deep learning, algorithm, reinforcement learning, edge computing, and data analysis at its AI R&D bases in Seoul, Silicon Valley (USA), and Toronto (Canada). The company is expected to enhance synergy of AI One Team.
The team will seek to strengthen cooperation to improve AI competitiveness in products, services and solutions and to create business results. First of all, it is planning to review synergy measures such as interworking of KT's AI platform called 'Giga Genie' and LG Electronics' 'LG ThinQ.’. It will also seek to upgrade smart home technology by linking the home IoT services of KT and LG U+ and LG Electronics’ hone appliances.
At the same time, AI One Team will make joint efforts to foster AI talent to increase AI competitiveness in South Korea. It plans to participate in the "Industrial Practical AI Education" and "Creating AI Professionals" projects which are tailored to each industry, thus creating a foundation for AI talent to work evenly throughout the industry.
Park Il-pyung, president of CTO of LG Electronics, said, "We will work with companies, universities, and research institutes that have competitive edge in terms of open innovation to enhance national competitiveness of artificial intelligence and to create practical business results."
Lee Sang-min, vice president of LG U+'s FC division, said, "We will make bold cooperation to enhance competitiveness of AI technologies in Korea and innovate customer experiences. We will do our best to find new AI businesses that are globally competitive by discussing ways to cooperate with AI in the post-COVID-19 era."
Jeon Hong-beom, vice president of KT's AI/DX business division, said, "We expect that cooperation of AI One Team will accelerate with the joining of LG Electronics and LG U+, which have extraordinary capabilities in AI field," adding, "KT will work with AI One Team to strengthen national competitiveness based on AI, resolve social issues such as COVID-19, and make efforts to ensure a convenient and safe life for the people."