SEOUL: The Republic of Korea has inaugurated a national artificial intelligence research laboratory in Seoul, marking a strategic move to position itself among the top three global leaders in AI. The initiative, announced on Monday, aims to foster international collaboration in AI research and development. According to Emirates News Agency, the Korean government has pledged an investment of 94.6 billion won (approximately US$68.2 million) in the National AI Research Lab by 2028. The Ministry of Science and ICT highlighted that the lab will spearhead joint AI research projects, cultivate AI expertise, and establish a vibrant ecosystem that integrates the AI industry. The research facility will host scientists from Korea and countries including the United States, Canada, and France, among others. These international teams will engage in collaborative projects such as the study of neural scaling law and the development of a robot foundational model. This development follows an earlier government initiative ai med at enhancing Korea's AI capabilities, with the ultimate goal of achieving a prominent position in the global AI arena.