President Lee Jae Myung speaks with Google DeepMind co-founder and CEO Demis Hassabis at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
Google will open an artificial intelligence (AI) campus in Korea within this year, which will be the first of its kind in the world, in line with the Korean government’s expanded cooperation with global AI companies, a senior Cheong Wa Dae offcial said, Monday.
Kim Yong-beom, presidential chief of staff for policy, said the envisioned campus is anticipated to facilitate Google's cooperation with startups and researchers in Korea.
Kim said Demis Hassabis, co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind, disclosed the plan during his meeting with President Lee Jae Myung at Cheong Wa Dae. Google DeepMind is Google's AI research lab.
"Hassabis agreed to actively consider dispatching Google researchers to Korea," Kim said. "The CEO instantly accepted our request to send at least 10."
During the meeting, Lee and Hassabis discussed a range of cooperative measures, such as advancing the country's AI ecosystem and promoting the responsible use of related technologies.
The cooperation will help bolster Korea's “K-Moonshot” project, which brings together AI and science capabilities to tackle major national challenges, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Hassabis met the president at Cheong Wa Dae, before meeting Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Seoul later in the day to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU).
The meetings came as Korea strives to become one of the world’s top three AI powerhouses, alongside the United States and China.
“The meeting is an extension of the government’s global AI cooperation efforts and will serve as an opportunity to further accelerate policy through collaboration with a world-leading AI company,” the presidential office said.
Source: Korea Times News
