Seoul: The president of South Korea's leading institution for science, engineering, and technology, KAIST, has identified physical artificial intelligence (AI) as the next "game changer" for the university. Bae Choong-sik, who has been at the helm of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology since June, shared his forward-looking vision during a press conference on Monday, marking his first public address in this role.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Bae emphasized the university's commitment to enhancing the nation's manufacturing prowess through physical AI, contributing to national prosperity, and solidifying South Korea's status as a leader in the AI field. His comments followed the recent collaboration between KAIST and Nvidia Corp., which resulted in the establishment of a joint AI research center. This initiative, noted as Asia's first major AI lab with the U.S. chip giant, aims to develop next-generation AI models tailored to the Korean language and local industries.

During the press conference, Bae unveiled five strategic initiatives he intends to pursue over his four-year tenure, concluding in 2030. Key among these is the transformation of KAIST's curriculum to better prepare students for the AI era. This includes a stronger emphasis on liberal arts, basic sciences, and fostering entrepreneurship. Additionally, KAIST aims to increase its global footprint by attracting more international students and involving international scholars in thesis evaluations.

Bae expressed confidence in the capabilities of the university's faculty, stating, "I think the level of our professors is already at the global top. ... My goal is to leverage that momentum to bring the school to the world's top position." Currently, KAIST holds the 65th spot in the QS World Universities rankings for 2027 and remains within the top 15 in the QS regional evaluation for Asian universities.