- South Korea pledges $7 billion for AI development by 2027 to bolster semiconductor leadership.
- President Yoon Suk Yeol emphasizes the significance of AI in maintaining South Korea’s edge in the semiconductor industry.
- The investment aims to expand research and development in AI chips, including NPUs and high-bandwidth memory chips.
- South Korea targets becoming a top-three nation in AI technology by 2030, capturing a 10% share of the global semiconductor market.
- President Yoon envisions a future where South Korea dominates the semiconductor landscape with AI chips, akin to its historical memory chip dominance.
- The recent earthquake in Taiwan underscores the need for preparedness against potential disruptions in semiconductor supply chains.
Main AI News:
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol unveiled plans on Tuesday for his nation to inject 9.4 trillion won ($6.94 billion) into artificial intelligence by 2027, positioning it to maintain its premier status in state-of-the-art semiconductor technology.
The announcement signifies a strategic move to fortify South Korea’s competitive edge amid intensified global efforts from nations such as the United States, China, and Japan, all bolstering their semiconductor supply chains domestically.
Semiconductors serve as a cornerstone of South Korea’s export-oriented economy, evidenced by March’s chip exports surging to a 21-month peak of $11.7 billion, constituting nearly a fifth of the country’s total exports.
President Yoon, addressing policymakers and industry leaders, characterized the current semiconductor landscape as an industrial and international battleground, stressing the imperative for South Korea’s sustained leadership.
Through designated investments and a specialized fund, South Korea aims to markedly amplify research and development endeavors in AI chips, encompassing artificial neural processing units (NPUs) and next-gen high-bandwidth memory chips, as outlined by governmental sources.
Additionally, South Korean authorities pledge to advance next-gen artificial general intelligence (AGI) and safety technologies, transcending existing paradigms.
With a vision set forth by President Yoon, South Korea aspires to ascend to the top tier of AI technology, particularly in chip development, capturing a 10% or greater share of the global system semiconductor market by 2030.
President Yoon evoked the nation’s illustrious history in memory chip dominance, projecting a similar trajectory in the realm of AI chips over the ensuing three decades.
Acknowledging potential disruptions such as the recent earthquake in Taiwan, a semiconductor powerhouse, President Yoon emphasized the necessity for comprehensive readiness in the face of uncertainties.
Conclusion:
South Korea’s substantial investment in AI underscores its commitment to sustaining its position as a dominant force in the semiconductor market. This strategic move signifies South Korea’s proactive approach to maintain competitiveness amid escalating global efforts in semiconductor development. With a clear vision and substantial financial backing, South Korea is poised to shape the future of chip technology, leveraging AI innovation to secure its foothold in the industry.
