▲AI PRISM* Customized Economic Briefing
*Editor's Note: 'AI PRISM' (Personalized Report & Insight Summarizing Media) is an "AI-based customized news recommendation and summary service" developed with support from the Korea Press Foundation. It selects and provides six customized news items by reader type.
[Key Issue Briefing]
■ Physical AI Expansion: Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly expanding beyond generative applications into robotics, biotech, and digital twins. Michael Perry, Head of Commercial Strategy at Persona AI, said large-scale humanoid deployment will begin in some factories from 2027 and spread fully across all industries after 2030.
■ AI Internalization Race: Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) will fully roll out external generative AI services such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude on the work network of its DX Division employees in June. The plan is to boost productivity from planning to marketing through a two-track strategy combining its in-house Samsung Gauss with global Big Tech AI.
■ Offline Data Battle: Naver has launched a service combining Naver login with QR ordering through OK POS, the No. 1 brand of point-of-sale (POS) terminals for stores. As the core foundation of agentic AI competitiveness shifts to offline data, the data acquisition race among platform companies is intensifying.
[News of Interest to Startup Founders]
1. "AI Will Reshape Industries"…Korea's Survival Strategy According to Global Big Shots
- Key Summary: The Seoul Economic Daily will host 'Seoul Forum 2026' on the 27th and 28th at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, discussing AI industry strategy under the theme 'Beyond Intelligence, A New Engine for Industry (New Core, New Industry).' In his keynote speech, Michael Perry, Head of Commercial Strategy at Persona AI, will diagnose that large-scale humanoid deployment in factories will begin in 2027 and spread across all industries after 2030. Sue-In Lee, professor at the University of Washington, will address explainable AI (XAI) and AI reliability issues in the medical and bio fields in her special lecture on the 28th, while Park Sung-hyun, CEO of Rebellions, will present the global competitiveness of domestic neural processing units (NPUs) and the future of sovereign AI infrastructure. Demonstrations of Hyundai Motor Group's quadruped robot 'Spot' and IL Robotics' humanoid 'ILBOT' will also be conducted.
2. Samsung Electronics Unlocks External AI…Prepares Phased Humanoid Adoption
- Key Summary: Samsung Electronics announced on the 26th that it will officially adopt external generative AI services including ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Anthropic's Claude for employees of its Device Experience (DX) Division in June. With a two-track strategy of simultaneously utilizing its in-house Samsung Gauss alongside global Big Tech AI, the company plans to deploy these tools across new product planning, multilingual business communication, and precise customer data analysis. Prior to this, the company conducted on-site proof-of-concept (PoC) testing of ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude over April and May with 2,500 employees, and built a control system that mandates internal security training for those wishing to use external AI. Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics plans to convert all of its global production sites into AI-driven factories by 2030 and gradually deploy humanoid manufacturing robots such as operating bots, logistics bots, and assembly bots.
3. "AI's New Battleground"…Naver Gathers Local Data
- Key Summary: Naver has launched a service combining Naver login with the QR ordering function of OK POS, the top brand by market share among point-of-sale (POS) solutions. The structure allows Naver to secure transaction data including order timing and user gender and age when customers proceed with QR ordering while logged into Naver, leveraging OK POS's distribution network of 260,000 affiliated stores. CEO Choi Soo-yeon stated at last month's first-quarter earnings call, "This year we plan to focus our capabilities on securing offline data, and offline data will serve as the core foundation of Naver's agentic AI competitiveness." Accordingly, Naver has steadily built up its offline data foundation through the beta launch of 'Place Plus' in September last year, the introduction of its proprietary payment terminal 'Npay Connect' in November, and a partnership with the in-store waiting platform 'Tabling' in December.
[Reference News for Startup Founders]
4. Overseas Validation Too…Ministry of SMEs and Startups Helps Startups Go Global
- Key Summary: The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) is establishing overseas validation procedures within the 'Government's First Validation and Procurement Project,' which supports technology verification and initial procurement for startups in emerging industries such as robotics. When the Public Procurement Service begins selecting overseas validation partner institutions in the second half, the plan under review is to link them with the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development's overseas validation programs for startups. The structure involves purchasing products with government budget and conducting validation at overseas institutions, with parallel approaches of identifying demand from overseas institutions to connect with startups, and allowing startups to directly propose their preferred institutions. The MSS also plans to identify overseas institutional demand by leveraging global networks such as the Startup Venture Campus (SVC) established mainly in Silicon Valley.
5. NHN (181710.KS) Cloud Launches 'FactoryX'…"Leap Toward AI Infrastructure Company"
- Key Summary: NHN Cloud has begun targeting AI transformation (AX) demand from public and private sectors with 'NHN FactoryX,' its next-generation AI full-stack brand that integrates AI infrastructure, platforms, and services. NHN Cloud CEO Kim Dong-hoon stated at a press conference at The Plaza Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul on the 26th that he plans to raise the share of AI business in total revenue from 13% last year to 38% this year and over 50% next year. FactoryX provides a three-stage integrated execution environment ranging from securing graphics processing units (GPUs) to operations and running AI agents, and through the government's 'AI Computing Resource Utilization Foundation Strengthening Project,' it has built 7,656 Nvidia B200 GPUs and commercialized Korea's largest single GPU cluster of 4,080 units. In addition, by adopting a 100% liquid-cooled GPU cooling system, the annual failure rate has reportedly been reduced to about one-third of the conventional air-cooled level.
6. Nongshim (004370.KS) to Launch Shin Ramyun on India's No. 1 Quick Commerce
- Key Summary: Nongshim announced on the 26th that it has signed a Shin Ramyun brand distribution contract with 'Blinkit,' the top market share holder in India's quick commerce market. Leveraging the delivery infrastructure of Blinkit, which holds approximately 50% of the Indian quick commerce market, the company plans to introduce the Shin Ramyun brand to major key regions in India including New Delhi and Mumbai. According to the Korea International Trade Association, India's quick commerce market is projected to grow more than sixfold from $8 billion last year to $50 billion by 2030. Meanwhile, on the 22nd, Nongshim held an exclusive launch event for the 'Shin Ramyun Kimchi Stir-fried Noodles' brand in Gurugram, northern India, alongside a pop-up booth based on the 'Shin Ramyun Bunsik' concept and online marketing utilizing well-known local influencers.
▶Read more: Soaring Exchange Rate Shrinks Banks' Lending Capacity
▶Read more: Stocks Rise but Won Stays Weak…"Potential Growth Rate Lower Than U.S., Bonds Shunned"
