This file photo, provided by SK Telecom Co. on Nov. 25, 2020, shows its artificial intelligence semiconductor, the SAPEON X220.
SEOUL, Feb. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — Amid intensified global competition to attract high-caliber talent in the science and research areas, South Korea’s artificial intelligence (AI) brain drain remains at a serious level, a state-backed science education institute said.
Asia’s fourth-largest economy scored -35.04 in the index indicating the flow of AI talent (AI talent index) in 2019, a level similar to Poland (-38.79), according to a report released by the Korea Institute of Human Resources Development in Science and Technology.
The AI talent index is an indicator designed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) AI Policy Observatory to assess the AI policies of major member states.
This index is calculated by analyzing the inflow and outflow number per 10,000 AI talents. This number is based on data reported by the members LinkedIn, a U.S. social networking service for professionals.
South Korea’s AI talent index has been showing signs of improving, rising from -75.29 in 2015 and -70.10 in 2017.
Nonetheless, the outflow of AI talent is still larger than the corresponding influx.
Among six surveyed countries, including Germany, Japan, Britain, U.S. and China, South Korea and China were the only countries suffering from an exodus of AI talent, while the remaining four countries showed a net talent influx in AI areas.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
