Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly spreading across industrial sites, reshaping the standards of competition. The speed of applying and diffusing the technology into actual industries, beyond the technology itself, has emerged as a key criterion determining the success or failure of companies and nations.
At this turning point, a forum will examine the essence of industrial competition in the AI era. Seoul Economic Daily will host "Seoul Forum 2026" at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Nov. 27-28. Marking the newspaper's 66th anniversary, the forum will focus on exploring Korea's industrial strategy and direction in the AI era under the theme "New Core, New Industry: Beyond Intelligence, Toward a New Engine of Industry."
Michael Perry, head of commercial strategy at Persona AI, who will deliver the keynote speech on Nov. 27, defines the decisive battleground of AI competition not as "technology" but as "field application." He diagnoses that deploying robotics and AI at actual industrial sites requires complex preparations including information technology (IT) system integration, power infrastructure, safety certification, and workforce management, and that this process itself constitutes a new source of competitiveness.
Su-In Lee, a professor at the University of Washington in the United States who will give a special lecture on Nov. 28, the second day of the forum, presents "explainability" as a condition for AI diffusion. A leading researcher in the field of "Explainable AI (XAI)," she plans to argue that transparent verification of AI decision-making processes is essential in high-risk fields such as healthcare, and that this will be a core factor determining the practical utilization of AI.
The special forum "Pixel & Paint," to be held on Nov. 28, will examine "the power of K that changes the world" under the theme of the expansion potential of K-culture combined with AI infrastructure. Yoo Hong-june, director of the National Museum of Korea, will explore "the roots and power of Korean culture" in his keynote speech, followed by discussions on diverse topics including K-pop, traditional culture, the "muds" craze of museum merchandise, and the aesthetics of hanbok. ▷Article on Page 4
