The Korea-Gyeonggi Millennium Forum webinar was held on the 27th with the theme of ‘2021 as the first year of AI-led economy’. On this day, the forum was hosted by Ahn Jae-il, head of Hankyung’s AI Economic Research Institute (left). About 50 AI experts and forum members participated online, including LG AI Research Center Chairman Bae Sung-Hoon (2nd row, far right), Seoul National University AI Research Institute Jang Byeong-tak (second row far left), and Korea Economic Daily President Kim Jeong-ho (bottom row). . Reporter Eun-gu Kang [email protected]
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Minister of Science and Technology Information and Communication Choi Ki-young said on the 27th that he would establish an’AI hub’ that connects both domestic companies and research institutes related to artificial intelligence (AI) technology. In addition, he announced that it would promote a plan to increase the number of classes (total class hours) related to AI education in elementary, middle and high schools in consultation with the Ministry of Education.
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Minister Choi said at the Hankyung Millennium Forum held as a webinar by the Korea Economic Daily and the Hyundai Economic Research Institute. “The global AI technology war is flowing in a winner-take-all structure.” “The AI technology information of domestic companies, universities, and research institutes is integrated into one network. We will have a research institute that will serve as a hub.” He then emphasized, “We need to quickly develop Korea’s own AI technology that will stand up to the world’s largest AI language system GPT-3 built by Microsoft (MS) and an open AI company.”
He pointed out that in order to improve AI competitiveness, the overall education system must be modified first. Minister Choi said, “By organizing AI as an independent subject, we must increase the number of hours and allow universities to autonomously adopt this subject test in the entrance examination.”
Minister Choi said, “The export of AI medical service Dr.Ansor to the Middle East is imminent,” and introduced it as “the world’s most advanced AI convergence (AI+X) technology model.” Dr. Anser is a disease prediction, diagnosis, and treatment solution developed by venture companies such as Buno and 48 domestic industry, academia, research centers, and hospitals such as Seoul Asan Hospital and supported the development by the Ministry of Science and ICT.
“Expanding AI classes in elementary, middle, and high schools…I will be the welcome to build an industry, academia, and research ecosystem”
“Using artificial intelligence (AI), it is possible to quickly find good new materials and to re-create drugs by applying existing drugs to new places. The government intends to play a role as a welcome agent for spreading’AI+X (transformation)’, which combines AI and industrial fields.” Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning Choi Ki-young said at the 188th Hankyung Millennium Forum held online on the 27th, emphasizing the importance of AI+X to converge AI with existing industries. Minister Choi emphasized that “AI technology is weaker than that of the leading country, the United States and China,” but emphasized, “If we take advantage of the strength of a high level of human resources and a strong semiconductor industry, we will be able to secure global competitiveness.” It is also actively promoting convergence projects that combine AI technology with industries. Minister Choi added, “We have been promoting seven projects led by the government since last year, such as advancing medical services and improving energy efficiency by introducing AI. We plan to provide vouchers so that small and medium-sized venture companies can use AI easily.” . The following are questions and answers from Minister Choi and debaters.
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▷Jin-Hyung Kim Emeritus Professor at KAIST and Chair Professor at Chung-Ang University=I think the general theory of the AI national strategy is very good, but there are problems when entering the specific thesis. The data dam project is representative. I think it is difficult for companies to collect good data that can be used in the field in the same way as they are now.
▷ Minister Choi=The data dam project is successful in that it has already created quite a few jobs. It is not just a job, it is a job that lays the foundation for the future industry. We are also paying much attention to data quality. It also provides after-sales service by constructing data with demand companies and giving feedback. Repeatedly, the data will be of better quality.
▷Professor Kim=Since 2018, coding education has been introduced in elementary, middle and high schools. Middle schools require 34 hours of education, but because the number of hours (education hours) is small, the school cannot fully employ one full-time teacher. Quality control is not easy as one teacher travels to several schools. In the midst of this, there is also a move to introduce AI courses separately. It is necessary to establish an information education system including AI subjects.
▷ Minister Choi=It is important to develop the ability to think about computing in elementary and junior high schools. Younger students should have fun so they can study voluntarily. It is in consultation with the Ministry of Education to increase the number of hours for information education. It is planning to designate it as a required course so that all teachers can receive software and AI education. You can also consider putting software subjects as an elective subject for college entrance exams.
▷Beon Sang-hoon, head of LG AI Research Institute=The AI talent war is accelerating. AI graduate schools have been established at major domestic graduate schools to cultivate talent, but they are moving out more abroad. In France, the government subsidizes some of the labor costs involved in securing and using AI talent, while Switzerland is making national efforts to attract human resources to their home countries, such as providing tax incentives to companies by establishing an AI research institute.
▷ Minister Choi=The government is also contemplating a lot. Last year, the system was changed to allow professors of AI-related departments to join companies. Seoul National University is hiring AI talent in this way. The government is making efforts to improve the legal system. Some think it’s up to universities and businesses. I hope we can think about it together and improve it. There seems to be another difficulty with the government providing subsidies. We will look at it in the future.
▷Director Bae = ATo advance I, computing resources are as important as data. In particular, enormous computing resources are required to utilize artificial neural networks such as OpenAI’s GPT-3. There is a need for a plan to establish infrastructure by inducing corporate participation in a state-led way.
▷ Minister Choi=I am contemplating how to establish a research institute that acts as a kind of virtual hub by connecting large and small companies, government-funded research institutes, and universities through a network. It is a way for anyone to use it with a large AI system and good computing resources. The government will serve as a welcome agent so that the private sector can lead the research.
▷Byeong-tak Jang, President of Seoul National University AI Research CenterThe biggest difficulty in the field is the lack of manpower. First of all, the absolute number of manpower must be increased, but there is a limit as the admission quota for related departments in universities is limited.
▷ Minister Choi=Reducing the shortage of manpower. What if companies first use the voucher system well? There is also an effort to increase the number of admissions. Seoul National University is solving difficulties by revitalizing combined majors. New convergence may emerge if you use not only computer majors but also other majors. Businesses, universities, and the government should all work together.
▷ Dong-geun Lee, President of Hyundai Research Institute=I think the role of the government is to release various regulations so that the private sector can lead AI technology. The development of AI-related industries can lead to conflicts with privacy issues, and such conflicts must be actively adjusted by the government.
▷ Minister Choi=Fields such as telemedicine require industrial development, but conflict with vested people can arise. It’s not easy, but I try to adjust it while keeping a good balance. We will try to find contact points through hackathons (final discussion).
Reporter Lee Hae-seong/Lee Seung-woo/Kim Jin-won/Lee Si-eun/Choi Han-jong [email protected]
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