Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) has begun full-scale research on 'Physical AI' in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Physical AI is a next-generation AI technology that directly interacts with the physical world.
GIST announced on the 19th that the research team led by Professor Kim Seung-jun from the Department of AI Convergence has been selected as the main organization for the 'Overseas Excellent Research Institution Cooperation Hub Establishment Project' organized by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF). This project aims to further develop the overseas networks established by domestic research institutions and support international cooperation to achieve excellent results.
The core of Physical AI is to create an environment where humans and machines can naturally collaborate by integrating with sensors, robots, autonomous vehicles, smart manufacturing equipment, and more. It can be integrated with advanced technologies such as humanoid robots, autonomous vehicles, and smart factories, and is expected to expand across medical, educational, industrial, and service sectors, making it a leading innovation technology for the future.
The research team plans to establish and operate the 'GIST-MIT Human-Centered Physical AI Interaction Research Center' with a total funding of 7.7 billion won over six years from 2025 to 2030. The overseas research director will be Daniela Rus, a world-renowned expert in robotics and the director of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) at MIT.
In Korea, experts from various fields will join, including Professor Kim Seung-jun, Professor Hong Jin-hyuk from GIST (robots and accessibility), Professor Kim Kyung-jung from GIST (reinforcement learning and tactile robots), Professor Song Young-min from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) (optoelectronics and Physical AI sensors), and Deputy Minister Lee Kyung-taek from the Korea Electronics Technology Institute (edge computing and immersive media).
GIST and MIT plan to develop Physical AI technology that incorporates 'human-centered AI' focusing on effective interaction, inclusivity, and understandability at the new research center. They will also conduct joint research on human-computer interaction (HCI) and extended reality (XR) technologies, expand collaboration with MIT CSAIL, establish a multilateral research network, exchange personnel, hold international workshops, and promote the practical application of technology based on industry-academia collaboration.
In particular, they plan to leap forward as a global research hub linked to the Gwangju AI Cluster. They will strengthen practical exchanges by dispatching domestic researchers to MIT and inviting MIT researchers to GIST.
Professor Kim Seung-jun noted, 'Based on the international cooperation experience gained over the past five years through GIST-MIT joint research, we will achieve world-class research results and will take the lead in nurturing the next generation of global AI talent.'