Bodily AI know-how, the place synthetic intelligence (AI) immediately makes judgments and strikes in real-world areas, is rising as a survival technique that essentially transforms the construction of the manufacturing trade. As South Korea’s manufacturing sector has the circumstances to steer the bodily AI transformation, arguments have been raised that phased strategic planning is important to strengthen competitiveness.
The Korea Worldwide Commerce Affiliation (KITA) held the 2026 AX (Synthetic Intelligence Transformation) Initiative Convention along with the Korea Affiliation for ICT Promotion on Nov. 17 at COEX in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The occasion, held beneath the theme “The Way forward for Good Manufacturing Innovation Accelerated by Bodily AI,” was attended by roughly 450 representatives from firms and establishments, who comprehensively mentioned know-how developments, industrial utility methods, and coverage instructions.
Prof. Jang Younger-jae of KAIST, who offered a keynote speech, emphasised that the core of future competitiveness lies in reworking factories from dependence on expert employees’ expertise to a software-centered ‘clever working system.’
Lee Younger-hwan, director of Korea College Heart, identified that constructing a bodily AI ecosystem requires a producing surroundings the place AI, robotics, and digital simulation function in integration, and that establishing information standardization and verification programs for this objective is pressing. Moreover, Joo Min-sik, director of LG CNS, launched precise instances of bodily AI utilization in manufacturing websites reminiscent of robotic management and gear prediction, whereas figuring out information high quality and the dearth of technical capabilities amongst on-site personnel as main obstacles to enlargement.
Notably, this convention drew consideration from contributors by presenting joint analysis outcomes from KITA and the Korea College Convergence Analysis Institute. In accordance with the analysis, amid the scenario the place home small and medium manufacturing firms’ synthetic intelligence (AI) adoption charge is barely 0.1%, structural issues reminiscent of lack of information infrastructure, focus of specialised personnel in massive companies, excessive preliminary prices, and lack of organizational consensus are appearing as components hindering the manufacturing trade’s AI transformation.
Accordingly, the analysis crew offered 5 core components and phased implementation methods for profitable AI transformation: △forming company-wide consensus on AI transformation △securing specialised personnel and strengthening inner capabilities △overcoming funding value points and establishing long-term imaginative and prescient △strengthening information acquisition and administration capabilities △discovering field-led initiatives and securing acceptance. Moreover, they shared success tales from numerous fields, together with Panasia’s glass tube AI inspection automation (2x enchancment in inspection velocity, 95% defect detection charge), Surplus World’s AI-based gear suggestion system, and Interojo’s AI materials property simulation-based analysis velocity innovation (10x enchancment in improvement velocity), presenting particular blueprints for AI adoption.
KITA Vice Chairman Lee In-ho emphasised, “AI has now change into a ‘survival technique’ that operates immediately in the actual world and essentially transforms the construction of producing.” He added, “South Korea has enough circumstances to steer in bodily AI transformation primarily based on manufacturing capabilities, industrial infrastructure, and ample manufacturing information.” He continued, “To unfold AI transformation success components to small and medium manufacturing industries, we’ll constantly develop help to reinforce AI utilization capabilities throughout the trade, together with company AI internalization consulting and visits to AI main firms’ websites.”
