Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Naver, KT, Maum AI to help state-run agencies, SMEs use AI services
Science and ICT Minister Lee Jong-ho, center, poses with Naver Cloud CEO Kim Yoo-won, left, Presidential Committee on the Digital Platform Government Chairman Koh Jean, second from left, Korea Software Industry Association Chairman Cho Joon-hee, second from right, and LG AI Research chief Bae Kyung-hoon during the inaugural ceremony of the AI Promotion Council at Naver's headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, June 29. The ICT ministry and the digital platform government committee said Monday that they will start a project to support the utilization of hyperscale AI services developed by the private sector. Courtesy of Naver Cloud
By Baek Byung-yeul
By Baek Byung-yeul
Naver Cloud, KT, VAIV Company and Maum AI will provide their hyperscale artificial intelligence (AI) services to government agencies and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) here to improve administrative work efficiency and develop innovative services using emerging technology, according to the digital government platform committee and the ICT ministry, Monday.
The Presidential Committee on the Digital Platform Government and the Ministry of Science and ICT said they will launch a project this month to support the utilization of advanced hyperscale AI developed by these private companies to revitalize the domestic AI ecosystem.
In addition to the four companies selected this year, the committee added that it will have a larger budget next year to allow more AI platform companies to offer their platforms.
Under the project, public institutions and SMEs will receive consulting and training to develop and utilize innovative services based on AI, as well as support for using the AI platforms. The project also aims to create more efficient public services based on the AI platforms.
“While taking the lead in applying AI to the public sector, we will support the continued expansion of the domestic AI technology and industry ecosystem based on private cooperation,” said Uhm Yul, director general of the ICT ministry's Artificial Intelligence Policy Division, adding that many public organizations have shown interest in the project.
The AI service market, especially the generative AI service market, is expected to see explosive growth. According to data by S&P, the sales generated from generative AI services so far this year are estimated at $3.7 billion and projected to grow to $36 billion in 2028 with an annual average growth rate of 58 percent for the next five years.
For this project, Naver, KT, VAIV Company and Maum AI will provide their AI platforms to 44 public agencies and 81 SMEs as well as consulting and education organizations. Public agencies participating in this project will be able to explore ways to incorporate key functions of AI, such as document summarization and creation, into their work through consulting and training. SMEs can develop and operate innovative services by utilizing AI models, application programming interfaces and development tools provided by suppliers.
The AI platforms will be utilized in developing easy-to-use public AI services for those in charge of managing urban railways and call center consultation assistants who handle public service complaints. The government also plans to actively encourage public agencies to purchase or subscribe to various AI-based services to foster the related ecosystem.
“Through this project, the public and private sectors are expected to discover creative innovative services that the public can experience by freely utilizing hyperscale AI platforms,” a spokesperson of the Presidential Committee on the Digital Platform Government said.