South Korea’s KT Corp. has partnered with Microsoft to launch a nationwide Artificial Intelligence (AI) education initiative aimed at increasing public AI literacy and accelerating the country’s shift toward AI-powered industries.
KT CEO Kim Young-shub and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella met in Seoul on Tuesday to announce the joint effort. The two companies have agreed to develop the AI Skilling Initiative, which will include the establishment of dedicated AI education centers across South Korea.
This new initiative builds on the strategic partnership between KT and Microsoft formed last year, when the companies pledged to invest 2.4 trillion won (approximately $1.63 billion) over five years to support South Korea's AI transformation (AX). “AX solution development based on our strategic partnership with Microsoft is becoming tangible”, says Kim. ‘We will continue to deepen this collaboration and serve as a reliable partner for Korean companies seeking AX, while expanding the nation’s AX ecosystem’.
The AI Skilling Initiative will feature the development of specialized training materials, as well as AI learning hubs spread throughout the country. During Microsoft’s AI Tour event in Seoul, Nadella emphasized the importance of making AI more accessible to the public. “We aim to support a wide range of people, including college students, in acquiring AI-related degrees and skills”, he stated.
As part of the initiative, Microsoft also introduced two new AI-powered tools Researcher and Analyst. These tools, based on GPT-4-based reasoning models and Copilot, are designed to assist with tasks like market strategy development and customer research. The unveiling of these AI agents marked their global debut in Seoul.
In a separate development, LG Electronics Inc. CEO Cho Joo-wan also met with Nadella to introduce the LG Q9 portable home hub, which features Microsoft Azure OpenAI and Bing search. LG and Microsoft are currently exploring opportunities to expand their cooperation in areas such as AI integration, smart home robotics, and infrastructure solutions. The two companies are also working on projects related to building energy management systems, uninterruptible power supplies from LG Energy Solution, and operational expertise from LG CNS.
Through this new partnership and the AI Skilling Initiative, KT and Microsoft aim to enhance South Korea's AI capabilities and foster a more AI-savvy workforce, ensuring the country remains competitive in the global AI landscape.
