“AI Moves into the Real World” ... University of Seoul Hosts 2026 Seoul Big Data Forum

[Financial News] The University of Seoul has created a forum to discuss what future cities will look like as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data technologies reshape them, as well as the direction of development for “physical AI” applied in the real world.
The University of Seoul announced on the 23rd that it had held the 2026 Seoul Big Data Forum over two days, from the 6th to the 7th, at COEX in Gangnam District, Seoul. The University of Seoul served as the lead organizer, with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, The Seoul Institute, and the Seoul AI Foundation as co-hosts. About 2,600 people, including professionals in AI and robotics and members of the public, participated online and in person.
The forum focused on the effects that “physical AI”—AI technology that goes beyond simple information processing to operate in real-world physical environments—and robotics technology could have on future cities and people’s lives.
World-renowned roboticist Dennis Hong, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), delivered a keynote address on “The Moment Intelligence Gets a Body: The Era of Physical Intelligence Ushered in by Humanoids.” Professor Hong vividly conveyed the potential applications of human-shaped humanoid robots and physical AI, earning an enthusiastic response from attendees.
Presentations also showcased specific examples of data use in industry and academia. Nokia executive Philip Gerard, Mind AI CEO Son Byeong-hui, Lotte Card senior executive Ji Da-young, and Joon AI Consulting CEO Yoo Eung-jun, along with experts from Korea and abroad, including those from Kyoto University and the University of Cambridge, took part as speakers and shared the latest technology trends.
Expert panel discussions and a question-and-answer session followed the talks, giving attendees an opportunity to discuss the changes and challenges facing future cities.
The forum gained added significance by bringing together academia, industry, and public institutions to examine from multiple perspectives the changes that AI and big data technologies will bring to citizens’ lives.

[email protected] Kim Man-gi Reporter