Google to establish first global AI campus in Seoul

Google and South Korea have launched a landmark partnership to establish a first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence campus in Seoul, aiming to accelerate the nation's tech innovation and knowledge economy.

On Monday, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) during a meeting at Cheong Wa Dae.

The agreement outlines a collaborative hub where Google researchers will work alongside South Korean startups and engineers to tackle major national challenges.

Under the terms of the MoU, Hassabis has agreed to dispatch at least 10 senior Google engineers from the company's US headquarters to lead initiatives at the Seoul campus.

The partnership is a central pillar of South Korea’s ambitious "K-Moonshot" project, which seeks to integrate AI with scientific research to solve complex missions in biotechnology, energy, and semiconductors.

The South Korean government aims to elevate its research productivity to the world’s fifth-highest level by 2030 and resolve 12 specific national missions using AI by 2035.

During their discussions, Hassabis and President Lee explored the ethical implications of the AI ecosystem, focusing on responsible use and the growing threat of cyber-attacks.

Hassabis also expressed a strong desire to deepen cooperation with major Korean industrial leaders, including Samsung, SK Hynix, LG, and Hyundai’s Boston Dynamics.

This collaboration marks a significant symbolic return for Google DeepMind to the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul—the same venue where the historic AlphaGo match took place ten years ago, an event widely credited with igniting the modern AI era.