Seoul, Korea was the stage for a pivotal discussion at the Google for Korea 2026 event, bringing together prominent figures in technology and artificial intelligence. Go master Lee Se-dol, a special professor at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, was joined by Demis Hassabis, co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind and the visionary behind AlphaGo, alongside acclaimed author Cho Seung-yeon. The event highlighted Korea’s growing significance in the global AI landscape.
This landmark visit marked Demis Hassabis’s first return to Korea in 10 years, following the iconic 2016 human-versus-computer Go match where AlphaGo, an AI system developed by DeepMind, famously defeated Lee Se-dol 4–1. Hassabis, a distinguished artificial intelligence researcher and the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate, shared insights into the future of AI during his discussions in the nation.
Further reinforcing Korea’s position in technological innovation, Google DeepMind, the pioneering AI research lab under Alphabet, announced plans to establish the world’s first Google AI Campus in Korea. This strategic development represents a significant expansion of Google’s AI capabilities, making Korea a primary hub for advanced artificial intelligence research outside DeepMind’s headquarters in Britain.
khnews
