Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon stated, "The independent AI (artificial intelligence) foundation model project will continue," adding, "South Korea must simultaneously challenge frontier AI." He directly clarified the government's intention to sustain the project amid recent discussions about the possibility of its suspension.
Deputy Prime Minister Bae posted a message titled "South Korea's Independent AI Foundation Model Project Will Continue" on social media late on the 29th, emphasizing, "I believe we should not stop the independent foundation model project just because we are challenging frontier AI." He explained, "Not all AI needed in industrial fields must be ultra-large-scale frontier models," noting that AI considering cost, speed, security, and expertise is required in areas such as manufacturing, finance, healthcare, public services, and physical AI.
In particular, he cited the spread of Chinese open-weight AI as a reason for continuing the independent foundation model project. Deputy Prime Minister Bae said, "To ensure that our industrial and public AX (AI transformation) does not rely solely on foreign models, our competitive models must actually be used in various parts of the industry," adding, "The next goal of the independent foundation model project should be to create AI that is chosen in the field, going beyond simply earning a few more points on benchmarks."
He also foreshadowed changes in the support method for the independent foundation model project. Deputy Prime Minister Bae stated, "When the project was first planned, there was a shortage of GPUs (graphics processing units) that could be supported. We had no choice but to concentrate limited resources on a few through competition," adding, "The situation is changing now. GPU investment by the government and the private sector is expanding significantly."
He continued, "Now we must consider 'how to nurture more possibilities' rather than 'who to eliminate,'" stating that sufficient computing resources and growth opportunities should be provided to startups and SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises).
Regarding the currently ongoing third phase of the independent foundation model project, he said, "We will properly complete it as planned," adding, "We must prove competitiveness to the extent that industry, academia, and public sectors can choose our AI instead of foreign open-weight models."
On frontier AI, he stated, "It must be pursued boldly at the national level," adding, "Not based on the size or name of companies, but on technological capability and ambition, large corporations, startups, universities, and researchers must join forces to create world-class frontier AI in South Korea as well." This is a plan to cultivate it as a national strategic asset.
Deputy Prime Minister Bae said, "We will make frontier AI the axis that breaks through South Korea's technological limits, and the independent foundation model project the axis that enables South Korean AI to be used in various parts of industry and society," adding, "This is not an issue of choosing one over the other."
in TECH
