South Korea Faces Shortage of AI Experts Amid Global Race for Technology

In the midst of an intensifying global race to dominate the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, South Korea is experiencing a significant deficit in AI professionals. A recent survey highlights that while nearly 40% of AI specialists are based in the United States, over 15% are in India, and the United Kingdom has just above 7%, South Korea only accounts for a scant 0.5% share of AI expertise globally.

Worldwide AI Expert Distribution

As the realm of AI continues to grow, the dispersion of AI talent across the world remains uneven. The U.S. is at the forefront with 183,300 AI professionals, followed by India with 76,213, and the U.K. with 35,401. China also outpaces Korea with 22,191 AI experts, reflecting more than ninefold Korea's AI talent pool.

Defining AI Talent

AI 'talent' refers both to individuals who have published research on AI on platforms like arXiv and those working within relevant industries. Whereas countries like the U.S. and India are actively integrating AI into their educational systems and businesses, Korea appears to be lagging behind in creating the necessary environment to foster significant growth in this sector.

International Strategies to Attract AI Talent

Leading countries in AI are implementing strong strategies to attract and retain talent. The U.S. for example, collaborates with private firms such as Amazon and Google to offer lucrative salaries and research funding, additionally allowing international students to work in the country post-graduation. India is enhancing its educational curriculum to include AI from a young age. The U.K. invested heavily in AI in 2018, and China's initiatives to draw experts through substantial incentives demonstrate their commitment to AI expansion.

Korea's Approach to AI Development

South Korea has ambitions to train up 1 million AI professionals in the future, although efforts seem scattered across various government departments without a centralized management system. This fragmentation may be hindering Korea's ability to develop a robust AI workforce capable of competing on the international stage.

Korea, AI, talent