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Korea Herald
26-06-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
[Robert J. Fouser] South Korea's AI goals
New presidents in South Korea stir a wave of new policies and big national goals. As the country has developed, new presidents have shifted away from big national goals in favor of a longer list of policy initiatives. President Lee Jae Myung's all-out push to improve AI competitiveness represents a shift back to big goals. The president aims to make South Korea one of the top three most competitive nations in AI by the end of his term in 2030. Like many previous big goals, this is ambitious but achievable with focus and drive. National AI competitiveness is difficult to rank because the data informing the rankings changes so fast. Several rankings, however, show why the president's goal is achievable. The 'Global AI Index' by Tortoise Media and the 'Global Vibrancy Tool' by Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI use data from 2023 and 2024 but offer interesting insight. According to both surveys, the US is far in the lead, with China a respectable second. In the 'Global AI Index,' South Korea is sixth, with Singapore, the UK and France sitting between it and the top two. South Korea comes seventh in the 'Global Vibrancy Tool,' with the UK, India, the United Arab Emirates and France sitting above it. In both rankings, South Korea ranks higher than traditional industrial and engineering powerhouses like Germany and Japan. Among countries with a population over 50 million, South Korea ranks fifth after the US, China, the UK and France. Among these populous countries, it is the only country that uses a language with limited geographic spread. South Korea is clearly an AI powerhouse. Indeed, it has continued to improve its standing in the two rankings. In the first 'Global AI Index,' which came out in 2022, the country ranked eighth. In the first 'Global Vibrancy Tool,' which came out (way back) in 2017, it ranked 14th. The trajectory has been steadily upward. President Lee's goal of moving it up several notches to third place is clearly attainable. Most nations ranking around or below South Korea are also focusing on AI competitiveness, which means that the country has to work to keep its current position while aiming higher. What can it do? Among the seven categories comprising the 'Global AI Index,' South Korea ranks lowest, at 35th, for 'operating environment,' which focuses on the regulatory environment and public opinion. Its next lowest ranking is 13th in the 'talent' and 'research' categories, which cover the availability of AI-related talent. In the eight categories of the 'Global Vibrancy Tool,' South Korea ranks lowest in education, at 18th out of 36 nations. Its other low-ranking categories are 'responsible AI,' 'economy' and 'diversity.' Results from the two rankings are similar in highlighting the need to foster and attract AI talent, from research to implementation. The market for AI talent is global and becoming increasingly competitive. To compete, South Korean companies need to retain top domestic talent while attracting talent from abroad. This will cost money and require efforts to increase openness in corporate culture. At the same time, South Korea needs to direct more of its formidable R&D budget to AI and related fields. At present, the country ranks second in the world, between Israel and the US, in the percentage of gross domestic product spent on R&D. The two rankings diverge when it comes to the regulatory environment, but both were developed before the passage of the Basic Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and Creation of a Trust Base (Basic AI Act) in December 2024. The legislation, which is set to take effect in January 2026, was designed to provide a unified legal framework for the development, regulation, and ethical oversight of artificial intelligence technologies. South Korea is the second country after the EU to adopt a comprehensive AI law. Unlike the EU's AI Act, it does not impose detailed technical regulations directly, but empowers ministries, particularly the Ministry of Science and ICT, to work out the details as conditions change. If done well, this should help develop and maintain public trust without hurting innovation and competitiveness. Finally, South Korea's demographic crisis could work in its favor as the country adopts AI to fill gaps in a shrinking workforce. Increasingly, businesses are turning to AI to make up for a lack of workers rather than cost-cutting. Such needs will only continue to grow, which will help propel the country into the lead in developing practical applications of AI for others to adopt. Robert J. Fouser, a former associate professor of Korean language education at Seoul National University, writes on Korea from Providence, Rhode Island. He can be reached at robertjfouser@ The views expressed here are the writer's own. -- Ed.
Associated Press
23-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Hong Kong AI Governance Expert Releases First-Ever Strategic Blueprint to Reclaim City's Position in Global AI Rankings
AI Leadership Blueprint: Hong Kong's Path to Global Excellence - Provides 12 Policy Recommendations and 5-Year Roadmap to Address Hong Kong's Drop to #16 in Global AI Index. Wanchai, Hong Kong - June 23, 2025 - As Hong Kong faces mounting pressure to regain its competitive edge in artificial intelligence following its slide to 16th place in the 2024 Global AI Index, a new comprehensive guide offers a concrete path forward. " AI Leadership Blueprint: Hong Kong's Path to Global Excellence,' published by AI Governance Architect Alfons Futterer, presents the first Hong Kong-specific strategic framework designed to transform the city from an AI policy follower into a global leader. The 160-page blueprint, released May 12, 2025, addresses a critical gap in Hong Kong's AI ecosystem by providing actionable strategies that adapt Western regulatory frameworks, such as the EU AI Act, to Hong Kong's fast-moving, Asia-based innovation ecosystem. With Singapore and other regional competitors pulling ahead, Hong Kong faces a critical inflection point in its technological trajectory. Addressing Hong Kong's AI Governance Gap: 'Hong Kong has world-class infrastructure and research capabilities but lacks the strategic governance framework to compete with Singapore and other leading AI hubs,' said Futterer. 'This blueprint provides the missing piece – a practical roadmap that policymakers, business leaders, and regulators can implement immediately.' The book tackles Hong Kong's most pressing AI challenges through 12 specific policy recommendations, 7 strategic initiatives, and insights from over 100 expert contributors. Key focus areas include accelerating ISO 42001 compliance for Greater Bay Area businesses, establishing risk-based AI regulatory sandboxes, and creating cross-border governance frameworks that position Hong Kong as the region's AI governance hub. Evidence-Based Strategy with Global Benchmarking: Unlike theoretical policy papers, Futterer's blueprint draws from 5 international case studies and features 18 curated expert quotes, providing readers with proven strategies adapted for Hong Kong's unique regulatory environment. 'The question isn't whether Hong Kong should embrace AI governance – it's whether we'll lead or follow,' Futterer noted. 'This blueprint shows exactly how Hong Kong can reclaim its position as Asia's innovation gateway while maintaining the ethical standards that build long-term trust.' Comprehensive 5-Year Implementation Roadmap: The book's centerpiece is a detailed 5-year leadership roadmap that guides Hong Kong from its current #16 ranking toward top-tier global AI governance. The strategy emphasizes: Critical Timing for Hong Kong's Future: With artificial intelligence reshaping global competitiveness, Hong Kong faces a narrow window to reassert its leadership position. The blueprint arrives as businesses struggle with fragmented AI regulations, while government agencies seek clear implementation strategies for emerging technologies. 'Every month of delay in AI governance allows competitors like Singapore to widen the gap, reinforcing the urgency for decisive action,' Futterer emphasized. 'This blueprint provides the tools for immediate action.' Target Audience and Applications: ' AI Leadership Blueprint: Hong Kong's Path to Global Excellence " is designed for policymakers, regulatory officials, technology leaders, business executives, and academic institutions shaping Hong Kong's AI future. The guide's practical focus makes it essential reading for: Alfons Futterer is the Managing Director of NanoMatriX Technologies Limited. With over 25 years of experience, he has developed solutions to mitigate financial and non-financial risks tied to internal and external threats. At NanoMatriX, he has led innovations in secure document technology, brand protection, and compliance. He is the creator of ComplyNexus, an AI-powered compliance platform that simplifies regulatory processes and supports AI governance and sovereign operations. Alfons is a member of ISACA, the AI Working Group of the Hong Kong German Chamber of Commerce, and the Digital Innovation Council of the European Chamber. He actively promotes ethical AI governance and supports organizations navigating complex regulatory environments. Availability: ' AI Leadership Blueprint: Hong Kong's Path to Global Excellence " (ISBN: 978-9887129400) is available immediately through Amazon and major digital platforms. The first edition spans 160 pages and includes comprehensive appendices with implementation templates and regulatory checklists. Media Contact: Alfons Futterer, Attn: Media Relations Wanchai, Hong Kong, +852 2523 9959, [email protected] Book Information: Amazon AI Leadership Blueprint, Format: Digital and Print, Pages: 160, ISBN-13: 978-9887129400 High-resolution images, author photos, and review copies are available upon request. Media Contact Company Name: Alfons Futterer Contact Person: Media Relations Email: Send Email Phone: +852 2523 9959 City: Wanchai Country: HongKong Website: Source: PRD Marketing Group
Calgary Herald
22-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
'Nobody will wait for us': Tech sector says urgency is key for new AI minister Evan Solomon
Article content Canada's first-ever minister of artificial intelligence and digital innovation will need to accelerate the build-out of the country's AI infrastructure while cultivating trust in the technology in the general public — and many in the industry are warning there will be little room for trial and error along the way. Article content Last week, Prime Minister Mark Carney named former journalist Evan Solomon to the newly created post, which will have him oversee the country's adoption of the much-hyped technology. Carney has promised to run a lean and efficient government focused on growth and productivity, with technologies such as AI playing a crucial role in keeping Canada competitive and self-reliant. Article content 'We were one of the first countries to come out with an AI policy roadmap in 2017. (But Canada's leadership position) has slipped away in the last few years,' said Rob Goehring, executive director of industry group AI in B.C. and chief executive of cybersecurity firm WisrAI. Article content In 2021, Canada ranked fourth worldwide on the Global AI Index, a data project from U.K. digital media site Tortoise that tracks countries' AI capacity based on implementation, innovation and investment. By 2024, Canada had dropped to eighth place behind countries such as Germany, France and South Korea. Article content Carney has pledged to build on the Trudeau government's AI commitments, meaning existing commitments to channel $2.5 billion over the next two years to further AI and digital infrastructure projects, such as building data centres, expanding cloud computing capacity and procuring cutting-edge chips will likely be maintained. Article content Article content The full scope of what Solomon and the government will add to that strategy has yet to be revealed, but industry players say the need for urgency is essential. Article content Article content 'It's critical that we invest and move at a fast pace, because it's clear that nobody will wait for us,' said Julien Billot, CEO of Montreal-based Scale AI, a federally-backed supercluster that helps industry adopt AI technologies. Article content That means prioritizing the cultivation of AI talent and keeping it here, while helping researchers and businesses optimize existing resources to 'build smaller and more energy-efficient models … instead of trying to build from scratch.'
Saudi Gazette
12-05-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Crown Prince launches HUMAIN, new PIF-owned AI company to drive global innovation
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), on Monday announced the launch of HUMAIN, a new PIF-owned company focused on artificial intelligence. HUMAIN will operate as a unified AI entity, investing across the entire AI value chain. The company will offer a comprehensive range of services and solutions including advanced AI models, multimodal Arabic large language models (LLMs), next-generation data centers, cloud capabilities, and infrastructure to support AI deployment across sectors. Chaired by the Crown Prince, HUMAIN aims to enhance human capabilities and unlock new opportunities in the digital economy, serving both regional and global markets. The launch aligns with PIF's broader strategy to position Saudi Arabia as a globally competitive AI and digital economy company will play a central role in developing local innovation, streamlining data center projects, sourcing hardware, and accelerating AI adoption in strategic sectors such as energy, healthcare, manufacturing and financial Arabia's government AI strategy has already earned top global recognition. The Global AI Index in 2024 ranked the Kingdom as the world leader in this noted that Saudi Arabia's strategic location, demographic advantages, and economic momentum uniquely position it to process massive data volumes and foster cutting-edge will further attract international partnerships, top talent, and high-value investments while supporting national aspirations in data and AI leadership.
South China Morning Post
23-03-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's vision of becoming AI hub demands clear road map
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po's announcement , in his latest budget speech, of Hong Kong's aspiration to become an international exchange and cooperation hub for artificial intelligence (AI) is bold and timely. As one of the world's most connected cities, Hong Kong has the potential to play a pivotal role in the global AI conversation. However, the path to achieving this requires strategic planning and concrete action. Advertisement According to the 2024 Global AI Index, Hong Kong ranks 16th, which is respectable but also shows room for improvement. While strong in infrastructure and research, the city lags in government strategy, regulatory frameworks and operating environment. The top three – the US, China and Singapore – have demonstrated stronger leadership in these areas. Singapore's journey offers valuable lessons. It unveiled its national AI strategy in 2019 and updated it in 2023 , with the latter version focusing on developing AI for the public good and positioning Singapore as a contributor to global AI governance. It has taken part in international AI safety conversations including at the World Economic Forum and the recent AI in Action Summit in Paris, supporting the development of AI governance among Southeast Asian countries and leading capacity-building initiatives for smaller nations. Hong Kong, a relative latecomer to the international AI community, must take decisive action and put its own house in order first. We propose a five-point plan to set the foundation for Hong Kong's AI future. Advertisement
