Korea’s ambition to achieve AI sovereignty is at a turning point as the U.S. advances its own tech-dominance agenda. Following the U.S. AI Action Plan, prioritizing domestic innovation and export control, Korean experts are calling for a strategic recalibration that favors homegrown models while adapting to shifting global standards. The Korean government has launched a national project to develop large-scale AI foundation models — including large language and multimodal models — with the goal of reaching 95% performance parity with global leaders. Ten consortia have been shortlisted, including Naver Cloud, LG AI Research, Upstage, and KAIST. Five will be selected by early August, with two final teams supported until 2027. However, the U.S. strategy could complicate Korea’s ambitions. President Donald Trump signed executive orders to build American AI infrastructure and promote “full-stack” U.S. technology to allies, while restricting adversaries. This may marginalize Korean models if they fail to align with U.S. standards. The Korea Software Industry Association warned that Korea risks becoming a secondary supplier of apps for foreign platforms if core AI tech is controlled abroad. Despite the challenges, many experts argue Korea still has unique opportunities. “If Korea pursues a fundamentally different strategy, rather than copying the U.S. or China, it can gain a competitive edge,” said Professor Choi Byeong-ho of Korea University. “We must focus on export-ready, optimized models — not just scaling up.” Choi suggests Korea should develop lightweight models, even if some trade-offs are necessary. Like semiconductors, he said, AI strategy should be globally export-oriented — targeting Southeast Asia, Europe, or other markets beyond the U.S. Gachon University professor Jeon Seong-min highlighted that Korea’s dynamic consumer environment could drive innovation in model outputs. “Even if we fail, we’ll learn. Success in niche areas could go mainstream,” he noted. Meanwhile, the industry awaits the outcome of trade negotiations ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline. An insider stressed that “Trade is more crucial than funding. Without resolution, even the best AI models will hit walls.” The broader trade situation — covering semiconductors and electronics — could determine the success or stagnation of Korea’s entire AI agenda. (ICE SEOUL)

Fonte notizia: The Korea Times