South Korea Plans to Launch $3.5 Billion Frontier AI Model Development Project Next Year

Odaily News: South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT announced that South Korea plans to launch a frontier artificial intelligence model development project worth 4.7 trillion Korean won (approximately $3.5 billion) starting in March 2027, aiming to secure a place in the race for cutting-edge artificial intelligence.

The ministry stated that it plans to select a lead developer through a public bidding process after the National Assembly approves the 2027 budget in December, with the winner potentially announced as early as February. The South Korean government plans to combine national equity investment with private funding and concentrate computing chips, data, and talent into the project. The project will be open to various entities, including individual companies, corporate consortia, and special purpose entities, and hopes to have startups, enterprises, universities, and researchers play a leading role.