South Korea and Google DeepMind Work Together on AI

Apr 27, 2026, 09:36
AsiaTechnology
A2

South Korea and Google DeepMind Work Together on AI

Introduction

President Lee Jae Myung and Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis met in Seoul. They agreed to work together on artificial intelligence (AI).

Main Body

Google will open a new AI center in Seoul. This center helps Google, small companies, and students work together. Google will also send engineers from the USA to Korea. AI can take away jobs from people. President Lee wants the government to give money to people who lose their jobs. Mr. Hassabis agrees. He also says the government should provide free health and school services. AI can be dangerous if it does not follow rules. The two leaders want to make AI safe. They will study how to stop AI from making mistakes. Google wants to work with big Korean companies like Samsung and LG. They want to use AI for science and robots.

Conclusion

South Korea and Google DeepMind will now research AI and safety together in Seoul.

Vocabulary Learning

dangerous (adj.)
capable of causing harm危險
Example:AI can be dangerous if it does not follow rules.
help (v.)
to assist / give support幫助
Example:Google will help students learn about AI.
money (n.)
currency / funds錢
Example:The government will give money to people who lose their jobs.
school (n.)
an institution for education學校
Example:Free school services are provided by the government.
work (v.)
to do a job / perform tasks工作
Example:I will work at the new AI center.

Sentence Learning

President Lee Jae Myung and Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis met in Seoul.
Prepositional Phrase: The phrase 'in Seoul' shows where the action happened.介係詞片語: 'in Seoul' 表示動作發生的地點。
AI can be dangerous if it does not follow rules.
Conditional: The word 'if' introduces a condition.條件連詞: 'if' 用來引入條件。
South Korea and Google DeepMind will now research AI and safety together in Seoul.
Time Marker: The word 'now' indicates the time of the action.時間副詞: 'now' 表示動作發生的時間。
This center helps Google, small companies, and students work together.
Connector: The word 'and' connects items in a list.連接詞: 'and' 用來連接列舉中的項目。
They will study how to stop AI from making mistakes.
Infinitive Clause: The phrase 'how to stop' shows an infinitive clause.不定詞子句: 'how to stop' 表示不定詞子句。
B2

South Korea and Google DeepMind Form Strategic Partnership for AI Research and Governance

Introduction

President Lee Jae Myung and Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis met in Seoul on Monday to sign a cooperation agreement. The partnership focuses on the development of artificial intelligence (AI), scientific research, and the creation of regulatory rules.

Main Body

The collaboration focuses on the 'K-Moonshot' initiative, a government strategy to use AI to solve national problems in eight key areas by 2035, such as space and biotechnology. To support this, the Ministry of Science and ICT and Google DeepMind signed a memorandum of understanding. A major part of this deal is the creation of a Google AI campus in Seoul, which will be the first of its kind in the world. This campus aims to encourage cooperation between Google, local startups, and universities. Furthermore, both parties agreed to exchange researchers, and Mr. Hassabis is considering sending at least ten engineers from the US to Korea. Beyond technology, the leaders discussed how AI affects society and the economy. President Lee suggested introducing a basic income to help people who might lose their jobs due to automation. Mr. Hassabis agreed that basic income is necessary, but he also suggested that the state should provide essential services like healthcare, education, and housing. He also emphasized the importance of supporting the people who train robots as productivity increases. Regarding AI safety, both sides agreed to conduct joint research on safety frameworks. President Lee expressed concern that AI behavior can be unpredictable, which could threaten human welfare and global peace. Mr. Hassabis explained that some unexpected behaviors happen because instructions are not specific enough. He asserted that strict safety limits are necessary as the industry moves toward more advanced 'agent systems' and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Finally, Google DeepMind plans to expand projects with Korean companies like Samsung and LG to use Korea's strength in semiconductors and robotics.

Conclusion

This agreement creates a formal system for joint AI research and safety management, supported by the new Seoul AI campus and the K-Moonshot program.

Vocabulary Learning

cooperation (n.)
collaboration / the act of working together toward a common goal合作
Example:The cooperation between Google and local startups will boost innovation.
framework (n.)
structure / a set of rules or guidelines框架
Example:They will conduct joint research on safety frameworks.
initiative (n.)
program / a plan or scheme launched to achieve a goal倡議
Example:The K-Moonshot initiative aims to solve national problems.
memorandum (n.)
document / a written record of an agreement議定書
Example:They signed a memorandum of understanding.
unpredictable (adj.)
unforeseeable / not able to be predicted無法預測的
Example:AI behavior can be unpredictable.

Sentence Learning

A major part of this deal is the creation of a Google AI campus in Seoul, which will be the first of its kind in the world.
Relative Clause: This clause uses the relative pronoun "which" to add non‑restrictive information about the campus.關係子句: 此句使用關係代詞「which」引入非限制性關係子句，補充說明校園的相關資訊。
The agreement creates a formal system for joint AI research and safety management, supported by the new Seoul AI campus and the K-Moonshot program.
Passive Voice: The participial phrase "supported by" shows that the system is backed by the campus and program.被動語態: 句中使用過去分詞短語 "supported by"，表明該系統受到新首爾AI校園和K-Moonshot計畫的支持。
Mr. Hassabis explained that some unexpected behaviors happen because instructions are not specific enough.
Conjunction (because): The word "because" introduces a reason clause explaining why the behaviors occur.原因連接詞: 「because」引入原因子句，說明意外行為發生的原因。
President Lee suggested introducing a basic income to help people who might lose their jobs due to automation.
Infinitive of Purpose: The infinitive "to help" indicates the purpose of the basic income.目的不定詞: 「to help」表示建立基本收入的目的。
He asserted that strict safety limits are necessary as the industry moves toward more advanced "agent systems" and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
Time Conjunction (as): The word "as" introduces a time clause showing that the need for safety limits coincides with industry progress.時間連接詞: 「as」引入時間子句，說明在行業發展的同時需要嚴格安全限制。
C2

South Korea and Google DeepMind Establish Strategic Partnership for AI Research and Governance

Introduction

President Lee Jae Myung and Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis met in Seoul on Monday to formalize a cooperation agreement focused on artificial intelligence (AI) development, scientific research, and the establishment of regulatory frameworks.

Main Body

The collaboration is centered on the 'K-Moonshot' initiative, a South Korean government strategy designed to utilize AI to address national challenges across eight strategic sectors by 2035, including quantum technology, space, and advanced biotechnology. To facilitate this, the Ministry of Science and ICT and Google DeepMind signed a memorandum of understanding. A primary component of this agreement is the establishment of a Google AI campus in Seoul—the first of its kind globally—intended to foster synergy between Google, local startups, and academic researchers. Additionally, the parties agreed to researcher exchanges, with Hassabis considering the deployment of at least ten engineers from Google's US headquarters to Korea. Beyond technical infrastructure, the discussions addressed the socio-economic implications of AI. President Lee proposed the implementation of a basic income to mitigate potential job losses resulting from automation. Mr. Hassabis expressed concurrence regarding the necessity of basic income, while suggesting a complementary approach involving state-provided essential services such as healthcare, education, and housing, integrated with capital market principles. He further noted the importance of supporting personnel involved in robot training as productivity gains increase. Regarding AI safety and governance, the two parties agreed to conduct joint research on safety frameworks and safeguards. President Lee expressed concern regarding the unpredictability of AI behavior and its potential impact on human welfare and global peace. Mr. Hassabis attributed certain unexpected model behaviors to insufficient instruction specificity and emphasized the necessity of maintaining strict guardrails as the industry transitions toward agent systems and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). This partnership is framed as a progression from the 2016 AlphaGo match in Seoul, which served as a catalyst for the modern AI era. The current cooperation seeks to transition from game-playing AI to scientific application, citing the AlphaFold protein structure prediction model as a precedent. Google DeepMind also indicated an intent to expand joint projects with South Korean industrial entities, including Samsung, SK Hynix, LG, and Boston Dynamics, leveraging Korea's industrial capacity in semiconductors and robotics.

Conclusion

The agreement establishes a formal mechanism for joint AI research and safety governance, anchored by the upcoming Seoul AI campus and the K-Moonshot program.

Vocabulary Learning

catalyst (n.)
stimulus / something that speeds up a process觸媒
Example:The AlphaGo match served as a catalyst for the modern AI era.
guardrails (n.)
safety measures / protective guidelines安全防護措施
Example:The team emphasized the necessity of maintaining strict guardrails as the industry transitions toward AGI.
mitigate (v.)
alleviate / to make less severe減輕
Example:President Lee proposed a basic income to mitigate potential job losses.
precedent (n.)
example / a situation that serves as a model前例
Example:The AlphaFold model was cited as a precedent for scientific application.
synergy (n.)
cooperation / the state of working together協同
Example:The partnership was designed to foster synergy between Google and local startups.

Sentence Learning

President Lee proposed the implementation of a basic income to mitigate potential job losses resulting from automation.
Nominalization: The noun "implementation" turns the verb "implement" into a noun, allowing the sentence to refer to the action as an object.名詞化: 「implementation」將動詞 "implement" 轉化為名詞，將行動作為名詞化對象，提升句子結構的簡潔性。
A primary component of this agreement is the establishment of a Google AI campus in Seoul—the first of its kind globally—intended to foster synergy between Google, local startups, and academic researchers.
Reduced Relative Clause: The phrase "intended to foster synergy" is a participial clause that replaces a full relative clause, providing additional information about the campus.簡化關係子句: "intended to foster synergy" 為分詞短語，替代完整關係子句，為「campus」提供額外資訊。
The collaboration is centered on the ''K-Moonshot'' initiative, a South Korean government strategy designed to utilize AI to address national challenges across eight strategic sectors by 2035, including quantum technology, space, and advanced biotechnology.
Appositive: The phrase "a South Korean government strategy designed to utilize AI" renames "K-Moonshot initiative" and provides further detail.同位語: "a South Korean government strategy designed to utilize AI" 為同位語，重新命名「K-Moonshot initiative」並提供進一步說明。
This partnership is framed as a progression from the 2016 AlphaGo match in Seoul, which served as a catalyst for the modern AI era.
Relative Clause: The clause "which served as a catalyst for the modern AI era" modifies "the 2016 AlphaGo match in Seoul" and gives background.關係子句: "which served as a catalyst for the modern AI era" 修飾「the 2016 AlphaGo match in Seoul」，提供背景資訊。
He further noted the importance of supporting personnel involved in robot training as productivity gains increase.
Subordinate Temporal Clause: The clause "as productivity gains increase" indicates the timing of the action, functioning as a subordinate clause.時間性從句: "as productivity gains increase" 表示時間條件，作為從屬子句使用。