"CJ AI Center Signs MOU with KAIST for Joint Research on Brain-Inspired AI"

Industry-Academia Collaboration in Brain-Inspired AI, Joint Development of Core AI Technologies for EEG Decoding and Robot Control
Expecting Social Contribution through Medical Technology such as Development of EEG-Controlled Robotic Arm for Disabled

(From the left) Lee Chi-hoon, Head of CJ AI Center, and Jung Jae-seung, Chair of the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at KAIST, are taking a commemorative photo after signing a joint research MOU between CJ AI Center and the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at KAIST on the 1st at CJ AI Center in Sinsa-dong, Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] CJ Artificial Intelligence (AI) Center and the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at KAIST announced on the 31st that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for joint research in the field of brain-inspired artificial intelligence. Brain-inspired AI refers to AI technology designed to operate in a manner similar to the human brain, analyzing human intentions and behaviors from biological signals including brain activity.

Under this agreement, the two institutions will conduct joint research over the next three years on brain-machine interface technology and robotic arm control using machine learning. Furthermore, from a mid- to long-term perspective, they plan to jointly promote the establishment of a ‘Brain-Inspired Artificial Intelligence Research Center.’ They will also actively facilitate personnel exchanges such as providing internship opportunities for KAIST Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences undergraduates and dispatching CJ researchers to KAIST.

Both institutions expect that this industry-academia collaboration will enhance their competitiveness in securing core AI technologies related to intention recognition through brainwave decoding and robot control. In particular, brain-inspired AI has a wide range of practical applications, including understanding customer preferences and the evolution of social robots capable of communicating with humans. It is also expected to significantly contribute to cutting-edge medical technology advancements, such as brainwave-controlled robotic arms that alleviate daily inconveniences for people with disabilities, and diagnosis and treatment of depression caused by stress.

CJ anticipates that this technology can also be applied to its major business sectors such as food, bio, entertainment, and logistics. Applying brainwave recognition technology to robots currently used in logistics centers and production facilities can greatly improve utilization and productivity. Additionally, it will be possible to objectively understand consumers’ sensory experiences when developing new content or food products, allowing broad application across various industries.

Lee Chi-hoon, Director of the CJ AI Center, said, “Industry-academia collaboration with the KAIST research team, which has outstanding capabilities in brain cognitive science in Korea, is expected to be a great opportunity to strengthen industrial competitiveness and contribute to society through AI.” He added, “We will expand cooperation with various expert groups to enhance the research capabilities of the CJ AI Center.”

Jung Jae-seung, Head of the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at KAIST, stated, “To provide robotic arms that move according to the thoughts of people who have lost their arms due to accidents, technology that reads intentions through brainwaves is essential.” He added, “If the research teams from the two institutions, composed of excellent AI experts, collaborate, we expect to achieve remarkable results within a few years.”

The CJ AI Center was established in April with goals including efficient integrated management of AI infrastructure and data, solving business challenges of affiliates using AI, revitalizing the AI ecosystem, and nurturing specialized talent. Previously, it signed industry-academia cooperation MOUs with Seoul National University AI Institute and Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), actively pursuing collaboration with expert groups and talent development.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.