[Presentations (Moderator: Prof. Yoon-Jong Lee, KAIST)] The Present and Future of K-AI Semiconductors

1:00 pm - 1:25 pm

As AI continues to push the boundaries of computing, Korea’s semiconductor ecosystem is rapidly advancing to meet the demands of next-generation AI applications. This talk will highlight recent progress in processing-in-memory, neuromorphic computing, and energy-efficient AI accelerators, with innovations that span from circuit-level design to full-stack system integration. These advances are being driven by a new wave of startups, such as Rebellions, HyperAccel, Mobilint, UX Factory, and OnNeuroAI, alongside collaborations with industry leaders such as Samsung and SK Hynix. By bridging foundational R&D with large-scale commercialization, Korea’s AI semiconductor efforts offer a compelling model of innovation-from silicon ideation to deployment. The talk will conclude with strategic insights into Korea’s global positioning in the silicon race and the role of integrated research ecosystems in shaping the future of AI hardware. 

Featured Speakers

HoiJun_Yoo

Prof. Hoi-Jun Yoo

Professor, KAIST

Hoi-Jun Yoo is a member of National Academy of Science of Korea, the KAIST ICT Endowed Chair Professor of School of Electrical Engineering and Dean of the AI Semiconductor Graduate School at KAIST. He is also the Director of the AI-PIM Research Center, and the Director of KAIST Institute of IT-AI Convergence. His research focuses on Wearable Healthcare systems, AI-SoC design, High-Speed and Low-Power memory architectures, and PIM circuits. He has published over 200 journal papers and more than 400 conference papers in these areas. Prior to joining KAIST in 1998, he worked for Bell Communications Research developing VCSELs. He is a Fellow of IEEE, has served as an AdCom member of the IEEE SSCS since 2022, the TPC Chair of ISSCC, and the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the A-SSCC.

Prof. Yoo has been at the forefront of semiconductor and system design innovation, with his group’s research on physical-AI accelerators integrated into mobile XR/Robotic SoCs. His achievements have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Kyung Ahm Scholarship Award, the KAIST Grand Prize for Academic Excellence, multiple IEEE Best Paper Awards, and Top 5 Paper Contributor in 70 years of ISSCC, and Top 10 Paper Contributor in 60 years of ISSCC.