At Seoul's crowded Hongik University Station, French tourist Nagete Amandedano and her sister approached the information desk to ask for directions in French. But instead of talking to station staff, they interacted with a transparent OLED screen.
On the other end, a Korean staff member who didn't speak French spoke to the couple. His messages were instantly translated so they could understand.
Installed late last year, the AI-powered translation service is part of an initiative to assist travelers in Seoul’s busiest neighborhoods. Now available at 11 stations with 13 language options and a dedicated FAQ section, it’s a huge step forward in how technology can be used to enhance the traveler experience.
“We are constantly amazed at how technology is integrated everywhere you go in this country. Wi-fi is very fast everywhere and people enter homes through touch screen password doors,” said Amandedano.
A station staff chats with foreigners through a transparent OLED screen at a subway station in Seoul, South Korea. Photo: EPA-EFE
South Korea is striving to catch up with the US and China as a leader in AI. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced plans to invest 710 billion won ($528 million) in AI by 2024, with the goal of generating an annual economic impact of 310 trillion won ($230.4 billion) by 2026.
"Our country's competitiveness in AI memory semiconductors, generative AI patents, and on-device AI production capabilities are the best in the world," said Nam Chul-ki, director of the IT Ministry's AI policy division, noting that South Korea leads the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in the rate of AI adoption among companies.
However, despite these advances, South Korea still lags behind the US, China and the United Arab Emirates in terms of investment in AI infrastructure.
“Our country has only started investing heavily in AI in the past two years as the industry has started to grow globally,” said Yi Su-min, founder of Wayne Hills Bryant AI, a company that converts text and voice data into digital video content.
He said the lack of talent focused on AI technology innovation is a significant barrier, as the country's workforce is more focused on "securing high-paying jobs rather than taking risks investing in AI startups."
Nagete Amandedano (left) and her sister get help with directions. Photo: David D. Lee
As the government pushes forward, SK Telecom (SKT), South Korea's leading telecommunications operator, is taking the lead in expanding its AI capabilities. As a member of the ICT Ministry's AI Strategy High-Level Advisory Council, SKT is deploying AI technology in various fields, including veterinary medicine.
Veterinarian Heo Jung, director of Segaero Veterinary Center in Seoul, shared that he has seen firsthand how AI improves work efficiency.
"A 5-year-old Maltese dog came to the hospital with an unexplained distended belly," he said.
He initially diagnosed the dog with an enlarged liver. But then he used X Caliber, an AI-powered X-ray diagnosis service developed by SKT that can analyze images within 30 seconds and has an 86% detection rate.
"X Caliber told me there was a 70% chance the problem was related to a water-filled stomach. If I continued to focus on the liver, tragedy could strike in just a few days," said Heo.
Not only does this technology simplify diagnosis, it also helps veterinarians like Mr. Heo build trust with pet owners by letting them review the analysis with their own veterinarian.
“This has boosted our credibility. There is clearly growing acceptance and awareness of the role of AI in our work,” said Heo, who is also vice president of the Seoul Veterinary Medical Association.
A display of X Caliber, an AI X-ray diagnosis service developed by SK Telecom. Photo: SKT
SKT also has an AI service for people with developmental disabilities. This service has been a great help to people like Pyo Sung-min, the guardian of a 22-year-old nephew who occasionally has violent outbursts. Not knowing when his nephew will have a fit, Pyo has a hard time finding adequate care for him.
“After being turned down by many centers, we finally found one that agreed to take care of him for three hours a day,” Pyo recalls. With the advent of CareVia, an AI service that analyzes behavior using cameras and software, Pyo was able to increase that three hours to seven.
“We discovered that my nephew often has a special look in his eyes before he acts,” Pyo said. This helps him anticipate and control potential outbursts.
“He still breaks things and hits me sometimes, but I feel like I can finally communicate with him, little by little,” Pyo said.
At the HopeWelfare Day Care Center for the Disabled in Daejeon, Director Hong Jeom-suk has also seen similar improvements in his patients.
“This technology helps us read patients’ expressions and emotions. We hope to continue to benefit from such technological advances, which will help increase social participation for people with disabilities,” she said.
Ngoc Anh (according to SCMP)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/han-quoc-ung-dung-ai-trong-cuoc-song-hang-ngay-post316626.html
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