Gyeonggi Province launches Physical AI transformation initiative

Gyeonggi Province has announced a major transition toward ‘Physical AI’—technology that integrates artificial intelligence with robotics and machinery to perform real-world tasks. During a declaration ceremony held at Seoul National University’s Siheung Campus, a collaborative network comprising 66 institutions, including local governments, universities, and research centers, was established to drive this initiative.

The project will follow a phased implementation strategy. Initially, the focus is on manufacturing innovation, with pilot testing currently underway at nine companies in the Seongnam industrial complex to reduce high-risk or high-intensity labor. By 2027, the province aims to expand technology demonstrations to disaster response and firefighting sectors. By 2029, the scope will extend to daily care services, utilizing robots to assist the elderly and people with disabilities with tasks such as fall prevention and daily living assistance.

A central hub for this transition, the Gyeonggi Physical AI Diffusion Center, is being established in Siheung. The center will provide small and medium-sized enterprises with access to robot equipment, AI training environments, and technical consulting to lower the barriers to adoption, such as high initial costs and a lack of specialized personnel.