LG AI Research leads Korea AI model review; Naver Cloud out

Jan. 15 (Asia Today) -- South Korea on Thursday released first-stage evaluation results for its "independent AI foundation model" project, with LG AI Research ranking first and advancing to the next round alongside SK Telecom and Upstage, while Naver Cloud and NC AI were eliminated. The Ministry of Science and ICT said it completed a comprehensive assessment of five selected teams under a government push to build globally competitive AI capabilities. The review covered model performance, real-world applicability, cost efficiency including model size and expected spillover effects in domestic and global AI ecosystems based on benchmark testing, expert review and user evaluation. The ministry said LG AI Research posted the highest overall score at 90.2 points. The average score for the five teams was 79.7 points. In benchmark testing, the ministry said LG AI Research and SK Telecom tied for the top score in one evaluation category at 9.2 out of 10. LG AI Research led a global common benchmark category with 14.4 out of 20 and finished with the highest overall benchmark total at 33.6 points. Upstage and LG AI Research tied at 10 out of 10 in a global individual benchmark category, the ministry said. A panel of 10 external AI experts from industry, academia and research institutes also gave LG AI Research the highest expert evaluation score at 31.6 out of 35, the ministry said. The panel reviewed technical reports and training log files submitted by the teams, including assessments of originality. In user evaluation, LG AI Research scored a perfect 25 out of 25, the ministry said. Science and ICT Vice Minister Ryu Je-myeong said the first-stage review weighed three pillars: benchmark results, expert evaluation and user feedback. He said the government also examined originality, policy-related factors and ethical considerations. The ministry said Naver Cloud was eliminated after evaluators concluded its model did not meet originality standards in technical and policy areas. Ryu said expert reviewers also cited limits in the team's technical distinctiveness. NC AI was also not selected to advance. The ministry said the remaining teams will proceed to the project's second stage. -- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI © Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited. Read More U.S. Treasury warns won volatility out of line with Korea fundamentals BOK again holds key rate steady amid weak won, hints at prolonged pause 75% of registered S. Koreans separated from family in North have died, gov't says

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