ESTsoft (CEO Chung Sang-won), a company specializing in artificial intelligence services, announced on the 28th that it has joined the 'Korea AI PC Alliance' (K-APA), launched to develop AI talent, build an ecosystem and lead the global market on that basis.
K-APA's central aim is to build competitiveness in the global on-device AI market. On-device AI has drawn considerable attention this year: as an AI market led by Google, OpenAI and Meta has run into surging infrastructure costs and security concerns, market demand for on-device AI has grown.
Seventeen companies including ESTsoft are taking part in K-APA. Members comprise leading companies and institutions across software, hardware and talent development, with Intel Korea acting as adviser.
On the software side, ESTsoft is joined by Saltlux, Polaris Office, i-Scream Edu, Musicplat, EQBR Holdings and XOsoft. On hardware, Atec, Daewoo Lucoms, TG Sambo, Cnexzone, Intech & Company, Coit and PC Direct take part, while the education institutions Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Korea University of Technology and Education and Dong-ah Institute of Media and Arts support talent development.
K-APA is beginning its work in earnest by running a 'Global Corporate Partnership Program' with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and Intel. The program supports promising Korean AI companies in advancing their AI business models and validating commercialization for overseas expansion, and provides Intel's developer tools, software portfolio and engineering consulting.
A hackathon is also planned for April in collaboration with Intel Korea, to support AI talent development by providing experience of varied projects and employment support. As adviser, Intel Korea will contribute actively to developing AI talent in Korea and building an on-device AI ecosystem for small and medium-sized companies, providing Intel technologies (such as OpenVINO and oneAPI) and supporting SMEs' overseas expansion.
ESTsoft CEO Chung Sang-won said: "We will work closely so that globally competitive AI humans are applied to on-device AI, and so that many Korean AI software and hardware products are used in the global on-device AI market. Together with our fellow members we will build AI competitiveness further and do our utmost so that Korea's on-device AI industry secures global competitiveness."