Kakao Mobility has completed its sixth cohort after revamping its social contribution programme for middle school students to focus on AI practice. Kakao Mobility said on Sunday it had concluded the sixth cohort of AI Junior Lab, which it jointly runs with the social welfare foundation Children and Future Foundation.

The programme has operated since 2023. From the sixth cohort, it changed its name from Junior Lab to AI Junior Lab and reorganised the curriculum around AI. It also expanded recruitment to middle school students nationwide and increased the number of participants to 50. The event ran for four days and three nights from July 29 to Aug. 1 at the Kakao AI Campus in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.

The sixth cohort put education on physical AI, in which digital intelligence handles real-world problems, at the forefront. Participants carried out hands-on training in "Vibe Coding", which involves coding in natural language, and directly controlled robotic arms, serving and guidance robots, and companion robots using AI technology. The programme was designed around a concept of a "secret lab that accepts only unidentified requests" and was structured to identify everyday problems and turn them into services.

Kakao Mobility employees in planning, development, design and marketing took part as mentors, providing project feedback and sharing job experience. At the final-day showcase, student project outputs were unveiled, including a mobile safety robot to prevent secondary accidents, a missing-child detection AI robot, a nighttime AI companion service and a mobility route guidance system for wheelchair users.

Kakao Mobility CEO Keukseon Ryu (류긍선) said, "I hope this AI Junior Lab gave participating students an opportunity to experience first-hand the principles of physical AI that organically combines software and hardware, and broaden their perspective on changing the world with technology." He said, "We will continue to spare no support so that more students can define and solve problems on their own through AI technology and grow into future AI talent."