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South Korea, DeepMind Ink AI Campus Deal, Advocate Basic Income

4/27/2026

Summary

Lee Launches AI Campus

On April 27 2026, President Lee Jae Myung and Demis Hassabis signed an MOU to build an AI campus in Seoul.
The Ministry of Science and ICT and Google will open the Seoul AI Campus later in 2026, partnering with DeepMind on AI research, talent development, and responsible-AI safeguards.
President Lee warned AI could cause unemployment and urged basic income.
Demis Hassabis advocated state-provided services and linking robot productivity to worker support.

Summary

Korea Accelerates AI

The AI Campus will serve as a hub for AI-driven science and technology cooperation under the K-Moonshot initiative, linking industry, academia and research.
An internship program will let promising AI researchers work within Google DeepMind’s research environment.
Panelists, including Deputy Prime Minister Bae Kyung-hoon, urged Korea to overhaul its research ecosystem into an AI-centric model and called the MOU pivotal for accelerating AI innovation.

History

Historical Context

In 2011 IBM’s Watson beat Jeopardy! champions Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter, winning a $1 million prize and sparking public-private AI partnerships such as IBM’s later health and industry projects. Building on that model, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and DeepMind founder Demis Hassabis signed an MOU in 2024 to create Seoul’s AI Campus, aiming to replicate state-industry collaboration to boost talent and address automation impacts.

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Lee Launches AI Campus

On April 27 2026, President Lee Jae Myung and Demis Hassabis signed an MOU to build an AI campus in Seoul.
The Ministry of Science and ICT and Google will open the Seoul AI Campus later in 2026, partnering with DeepMind on AI research, talent development, and responsible-AI safeguards.
President Lee warned AI could cause unemployment and urged basic income.
Demis Hassabis advocated state-provided services and linking robot productivity to worker support.

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