POSCO Group and GS Group have entered the government's "sovereign AI foundation model" project. The move is interpreted as an attempt to acquire AI capabilities by partnering with startups to drive AI transformation (AX) in traditional industries.
According to Seoul Economic Daily's reporting on the 13th, POSCO Holdings and GS Group's 52g have joined the Trillion Labs consortium, which applied for the Ministry of Science and ICT's sovereign foundation model project. 52g is an organization responsible for AX strategy planning within GS Group. Several other startups including Exem, AIM Intelligence, Vessl AI, Mobilint, and Wort Intelligence have also joined the consortium.
The consortium plans to focus on developing AI models that can accelerate AX in traditional smokestack industries. POSCO Holdings will play a pivotal role in the consortium, directly participating in creating manufacturing-specialized AI models centered on its in-house Future Technology Research Institute. POSCO Holdings' goal is specifically to develop AI models that internalize data used in steel, non-steel, and secondary battery operations. The company plans to create AI models for use not only in office settings for business strategy planning and improvement but also in laboratories and factories for new material development and autonomous operation of production facilities. 52g will serve as an AI model validation partner, mobilizing GS Group affiliates' capabilities to verify whether the consortium's AI models function properly in energy, retail, and construction industry settings.
POSCO and GS's participation in the sovereign foundation model consortium is interpreted as a strategic move to strengthen their AI capabilities. Both companies are expected to utilize their own data for developing industry-specific AI models and undergo validation processes at affiliate sites. Through this process, they can diagnose AX potential and identify areas for improvement. They can also internalize IT innovation know-how by working with startups experienced in AI model and service development. Analysts suggest the decision reflects a judgment that faster AI adoption than competitors is necessary, as manufacturing AX has emerged as a key topic amid the global rise of physical AI.
Shin Jae-min, CEO of Trillion Labs, explained, "The consortium we have formed is a strategic alliance to implement AI that actually works in core industrial settings such as manufacturing and energy."
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that two consortiums—Trillion Labs and Motif Technologies—applied as it closed the re-application period for the sovereign foundation model project on the 12th. The ministry plans to select one of the two consortiums as an elite team within this month. The selected elite team will compete against the consortium of LG AI Research Institute, SK Telecom, and Upstage.