The 2025 Seoul AI Summit & Expo kicked off on Monday, attracting tech executives and researchers from around the world to discuss the latest advancements in autonomous AI systems and enterprise-level AI applications.
**Autonomous AI Takes Center Stage** Held at the COEX Convention Center in Seoul, the two-day event brought together over 70 companies, with a focus on "Agentic AI"—systems capable of independent decision-making and execution. Co-hosted by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) and DMK Global, the summit underscores Seoul's strategic push to become a hub for AI innovation in Asia.
Notable attendees included Wen Sang, co-founder of AI platform Genspark; Luc Julia, co-creator of Apple’s Siri and Chief Scientific Officer at Renault Group; Richard Socher, CEO of You.com; and Seth Dobrin, IBM’s first Global Chief AI Officer.
A recent IBM report revealed that 99% of enterprise AI developers are exploring or deploying AI agents. IBM itself implemented around 3,000 AI assistants and agents internally in 2024, saving $3.5 billion in costs. Mohamad Ali, Senior Vice President of IBM Consulting, noted that AI-related services now account for one-third of the company’s consulting revenue.
**Commercialization and Market Opportunities** The summit featured approximately 50 business matchmaking sessions to bridge technology and industry needs. Ali emphasized that while many companies initially attempt to build AI capabilities independently, partnering with specialized consulting firms often proves critical to success.
South Korea is accelerating its AI strategy. Attendee KT Corporation formed a strategic alliance with Databricks in November 2024 to develop an "AI Transformation Innovation Platform," integrating data and AI. KITA has also hosted multiple events this year to encourage AI adoption among Korean manufacturers and exporters, labeling AI as a "core element of national strategic industries."
Under the theme "AI for Everything, Everything for AI," the summit highlighted AI’s pervasive impact across healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and logistics. Since its inception in 2018, DMK Global’s annual conference has become a key platform for AI ecosystem collaboration in Asia.