"The government is now wholly immersed in artificial intelligence (AI). We must not stray from this trend."
This was said at the Korea Robot Industry Association extraordinary general meeting held on the 30th. Industry is on high alert over the government's AI-centered policy line and is moving to "rebrand with AI." The Korea Robot Industry Association, which has 294 robot-related member corporations, changed its name to "Korea AI·Robot Industry Association" at the meeting. On the surface, it follows the global trend of convergence between AI and robots, but underneath lies a sense of urgency to avoid being left out of government policy.
Robot corporations gathered at the general meeting shared a sense of crisis that "if we don't move together with the government trend, we will fall behind." Chair Kim Jin-o said, "The trend of the current government is AI," and added, "People in robotics know that AI is included in robots, but outside, many still see robots only as hardware, so we need to clearly put AI in the name."
◇ A sense of crisis over "AI passing" sweeping the robot industry
The association includes Rainbow Robotics, a humanoid developer incorporated as a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics; ROBOTIS, which is pushing to commercialize humanoids in partnership with LG Electronics; and HIGEN RNM, a producer of actuators for robots—ranging from corporations drawing market attention to fledgling robot startups taking their first steps. A representative of one member company said, "Even if you are part of a large conglomerate, these days if you don't put the AI keyword front and center, you can fall behind in major support programs," adding, "Smaller firms are more dependent on government projects and research and development (R&D) grants, so they are more desperate."
As AI emerges as the central theme of government policy, there are even signs of a move outside to create a separate "AI Robot Association." The Korea Robot Industry Association being left off the guest list for the recent launch of the "Physical AI Global Alliance" led by the Ministry of Science and ICT is cited as a case that heightened a sense of crisis. An association official said, "There is a perception that AI is software and robots are hardware, but with physical AI now becoming mainstream, the government views it positively when AI is attached to fields like robots, manufacturing, and automobiles," adding, "Opportunities arise only if we align with that trend."
In fact, the government is pressing AI with unprecedented drive. According to next year's government budget proposal, the budget allocated to AI will reach 10.1 trillion won. It is three times this year's related budget proposal (3.3 trillion won), and observers say it is unusual to ramp up fiscal spending so sharply in a particular field. In physical AI as well, 500 billion won is included this year for key projects such as robots, with a total of 6 trillion won to be provided over the next five years. The Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups are jointly pushing physical AI as a national agenda, which is fueling industry fears that "without an AI signboard, you fall behind."
◇ A flurry of "AI rebranding" follows
This is not limited to the robot industry. The Korea Software Industry Association held an extraordinary general meeting at the end of May and changed its name to the "Korea Artificial Intelligence·Software Industry Association." A nameplate unveiling ceremony even took place with the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and ICT attending in person, reflecting the industry view that "an AI signboard is essential to stand in the line of government support." The game industry has also climbed aboard AI. The Korea Indie Game Association changed its signboard to the "Korea Artificial Intelligence Game Association" last month. The industry sees this as a move to strengthen its external image by promoting a vision of AI–game convergence.
But simply changing the signboard does not create AI capabilities overnight. Industry officials are not unaware of this. There were past cases where industry changed signboards in line with a government's core agenda, such as "IT convergence," "green growth," and the "fourth industrial revolution." An industry official noted, "If we fail to deliver substantive technological convergence and success stories that match the name, it could end up as mere window dressing riding the trend." The survival strategy to avoid being edged out of the government policy stage will only truly begin now if it does not stop at renaming and leads to real industrial innovation.