The government will start 22 pilot projects using homegrown AI semiconductors in areas including robots, security and urban safety. It will also push ahead with projects related to physical AI.

The Ministry of Science and ICT held a joint kickoff briefing on Aug. 5 for three major demonstration programmes based on homegrown AI semiconductors.

The briefing shared the 추진 방향 for 22 new projects selected under three programmes: AI Transformation (AX) device development and testing, support for rapid commercialisation of AI applications, and on-device AI service trials and expansion. It also discussed cooperation plans among the implementing organisations.

The AX device development and testing programme supports AI transformation and new market creation for domestic small and midsize device companies. It links homegrown neural processing unit (NPU) and AI model companies with device companies, and helps with technology verification, pilot testing and commercialisation.

The rapid commercialisation support programme backs the development and pilot testing of AI products and services that can deliver results in a short period in daily life, networks and security. The on-device AI service trials and expansion programme identifies public-sector services and verifies technology and business feasibility through large-scale city-level demonstrations.

This year in particular, the ministry will pursue seven physical AI demonstration tasks that, based on homegrown AI semiconductors, perceive and judge the surrounding environment and carry out actual actions. It plans to create use cases in daily life, safety and industrial sites through the end of next year and secure references for entry into global markets.

Key tasks include robots that carry out unstructured logistics and collaborative work at industrial sites, mobile dual-arm robots that autonomously perform parking, alignment and transfer tasks, and quadruped walking robots that recognise fire locations and support firefighting.

It will also study physical AI application products that perform tasks including autonomous response and rescue support using drones and an integrated control system, automation of food processing, preparation and supply of materials in manufacturing, and classification and movement of unstructured cargo.

The briefing also announced plans to 추진 'an AI-based integrated security platform' that automates threat detection and response across an entire system, and 'an AI-based correctional data integrated analysis platform' that supports correctional administration by predicting and analysing detainee risk levels.

It also introduced projects that use homegrown AI semiconductors to address regional issues and conduct city-level demonstrations, including 'an environment-adaptive multipurpose on-device AI-based urban safety network' that detects and alerts in real time risks of river flooding and urban inundation.

Park Tae-wan (박태완), director general for information and communications industry policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said demonstrations based on homegrown AI semiconductors are an important foundation for leading the global AI transformation. He said the ministry will actively support the efforts so they can lead to a leap in the industrial ecosystem and improved productivity in the field.