Seoul: NC AI Co., an artificial intelligence affiliate of game giant NCSOFT Corp., announced the formation of a consortium consisting of 53 companies and research institutes aimed at developing foundation models for physical AI. The consortium plans to participate in a project spearheaded by the state-run Institute of Information and Communications Technology Planning and Evaluation, focusing on integrating AI into robotics.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the consortium's key participants include Samsung SDS Co., Rainbow Robotics, and CMES Inc., alongside major academic institutions such as the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and Seoul National University. The collaboration is set to merge NC AI's existing AI models with the robotic technologies and AI infrastructure capabilities of the participating entities.

The primary goal of this consortium is to develop physical AI that effectively bridges the virtual and real worlds while establishing a sovereign AI infrastructure for South Korea. NC AI emphasized the importance of this initiative for advancing the country's AI capabilities.

Previously, NC AI did not progress to the second round of a government-led program aimed at developing homegrown AI foundation models, highlighting the significance of this new consortium in advancing their objectives.