Kwak Young-gil, chairman of Ajou News Corporation, emphasized the need to transition to an 'artificial intelligence (AI) civilization' that prioritizes human dignity and spiritual values over mere technological competition.
During his opening remarks at the 18th Good Growth, Good Jobs Global Forum (2026 GGGF) held at The Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on September 2, Kwak stated, "The advent of the AI era presents both a crisis and a rare opportunity for South Korea. If the country's strong manufacturing sector combines with AI, we can emerge as a global leader in physical AI production and a key hub in this field."
The forum was organized to discuss how South Korea can position itself as a global AI ecosystem hub, addressing issues from industrial innovation to the civilizational challenges that follow technological advancements.
Kwak asserted, "As AI becomes more powerful, the focus must return to humanity. We need to move beyond human-centered AI (HAI) to embrace Spirituality-centered AI (SAI), which incorporates conscience, responsibility, and reverence for life."
He further stressed that if South Korea consolidates its national capabilities, it can not only become a strong AI nation but also lead the direction of AI civilization.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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