Amid the intensifying US-China competition in artificial intelligence (AI) and the impact of high oil prices and interest rates due to the prolonged wars in the US-Iran and Russia-Ukraine conflicts, the global economy is in turmoil. In this context, Aju Economy is hosting the 18th Good Growth, Good Jobs Global Forum (2026 GGGF) to examine Korea's position in the global AI hegemony.
According to Aju Economy, the 2026 GGGF will feature a keynote address by Dennis Hong, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at UCLA and director of the Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory (RoMeLa). His talk, titled "The Realization of AI Civilization Depends on Physical AI Competitiveness," will highlight the importance of physical AI.
Professor Hong, a Korean-American roboticist, is known for his motto of creating warm technology for humans. He has developed innovative and creative robots, including cars for the visually impaired and humanoid robots, earning him the title of the "Leonardo da Vinci of robotics." As the director of RoMeLa, he has created a car that allows visually impaired individuals to drive using tactile and vision sensors, and has showcased disaster rescue robots like "Thor" and humanoid robot "Darwin," establishing a strong presence in the field of physical AI. He has also been recognized as one of the "10 Young Genius Scientists" by Popular Science, affirming his global reputation.
Following Hong, Im Jeong-hwan, CEO of Motif Technologies, will deliver a second keynote address on the theme of "K-AI Future Vision Amid US-China Competition." Im has been challenging the domestic AI ecosystem, which is largely dominated by large corporations, with initiatives like "Dopamo" and "Everyone's AI." He is expected to introduce Motif Technologies' AI capabilities, which have received recognition in global AI benchmarks, and diagnose the challenges facing the Korean AI industry while presenting a clear vision for its development.
A special lecture by Lee Geum-ryong, chairman of Coglo.com, will also be featured. Lee, who successfully led an IPO and sale as the CEO of the e-commerce service Auction, will discuss how major universities in Korea can become incubators for startups in the AI era, increasing job opportunities for young people. He will unveil groundbreaking ideas for expanding youth entrepreneurship and employment, emphasizing the role of the private sector, including large corporations, in this effort.
The first session, titled "AX Value Chain Hub: Future Growth Keywords," will feature presentations by Yoo Min-soo, Chief Research Officer of A2Sys and KAIST chair professor, and Joo Young-pyo, who is responsible for system architecture at SK Hynix. They will share insights on building a supply chain optimized for AI in the memory-based AI era. Yoo, who co-founded A2Sys and secured 16 billion won in investment within a month of its establishment, is expected to address corporate concerns regarding service optimization and operational cost reduction in the AI era.
The second day will kick off with a lecture by Joo Si-hyun, executive director of robotics intelligence development at Hyundai Motor Company. He is anticipated to present a vision for K-Physical AI, covering not only humanoid robots but also wearable forms of physical AI. A special lecture will also be held, focusing on the current state and implications of the AI industry in China, including discussions among representatives and executives from major domestic physical AI companies.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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