Dongguk University has been selected for the project supported by the University ICT Research Center (ITRC). The ITRC support project, hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and implemented by the Institute for Information & communication Technology Planning & evaluation, is one of the representative projects in the field of information and communication technology (ICT). The aim of the project is to cultivate capable, creative, and convergent-thinking experts in the ICT field. These individuals are competent in problem-solving and R&D through their performance of demand-based industry–academic cooperation tasks. There are various branches like artificial intelligence (AI), digital content, quantum chain, and blockchain; accordingly, Dongguk University was selected for the branch of AI through the project Developing “High Performance Knowledge System” and Training Human Resources. By being selected for this project, the university will obtain a total of 6 billion won for the next eight years; subsequently, the amount will be dispersed at 400 million won for the first year and then 800 million won for every year afterward. Professor Kim Ji-hui of the Department of Artificial Intelligence at the Convergence Software Institute, Dongguk University will be in charge of the ITRC support project. Professor Kim received her doctoral degree in the field of AI from the University of Southern California in the United States. She has held various posts including Senior Vice President at the KT Institute of Future Technology and Vice President of the AI Lab at Samsung Electronics.

Q. What is a “High Performance Knowledge System?”
Simply put, it is a learning intelligence system with enhanced performance. Among the various areas of artificial intelligence, this system is relevant to the field of learning intelligence. In addition to deep learning and machine learning, there is also learning from inference.* There are many challenges to knowledge inference. While there have been numerous studies on solving static and simple problems, there is a lack of research on techniques for analyzing or modeling dynamic and complex situations. Furthermore, various researches are needed to apply AI in everyday life. In this regard, the study to implement the two aforementioned matters is the High Performance Knowledge System.

* AI inference: This refers to AI that has the intellectual capacity to comprehensively assess diverse circumstances to predict upcoming situations. Rather than computing simple programmatic results, it is capable of logical analysis and reasoning by using raw materials.

Q. What do you hope to achieve through this support project?
Since I am also heading our university’s AI graduate program, the theme of the project is set on the field of “care.” The aim is to build an AI in the care field that can facilitate people’s lives and enhance their quality of life. For example, an AI that can detect anomalies in the daily patterns of an elder who has fallen or one that can provide health care like reminding people to workout at specific times. The direction that the project pursues is to ensure that these technologies can be applied appropriately in real life.

Q. What are some of the difficulties you have faced during your research?
Since the field of AI in itself is a difficult problem and is receiving much attention from society, we need the support of many others. We require the cooperation of numerous people because it is more than about technological issues, and comprehensively includes aspects of health, psychology, and culture. Various fields will be further involved as the research proceeds, making cooperation the most important yet the most difficult task.

Q. What are your plans for training new talent?
One of the focuses of the ITRC support project is to train new graduate school talents, and therefore, we are planning to cultivate new talent at our AI graduate program alongside it. The goal is to foster experts who not only have outstanding AI technology and research abilities, but also who are able to accurately perceive problems necessary in real life and solve problems demanded by either corporations or the government. In addition, since this project stresses creative activities, we aim to train individuals who can think about given problems, as well as their surrounding environment and various social issues in order to creatively come up with their own problems.

Q. Do you have any last words for our readers?
In addition to the students of Dongguk University, all employees and faculty members already grasp the importance of AI, which can only take its complete form when not only technology but also diverse fields of study like social, cultural, Buddhism, and art come together. As previously mentioned, the field of care also needs the cooperation of others in various fields. Therefore, I kindly ask for cooperation from others in order to create a win–win situation that can further enrich the education and research of Dongguk University.

The current selection for the ITRC support project is meaningful in that it serves as a steppingstone to vitalize Dongguk University’s specialized area named DNA (Big Data Network AI). With the onset of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the university looks forward to fostering specialized and talented individuals who will lead during this era by harmonizing AI and Buddhism.