LG to work with K-startups for on-device AI laptops next year

The latest Gram laptops from LG Electronics will come with on-device AI services made by local startups selected through the challenge in partnership with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.

From left, Intel Korea President Kwon Myung-sook, Lee Se-young, head of the Generative AI Startup Association, Minister of SMEs and Startups Oh Young-joo, Jang Ik-hwan, executive vice president at LG Electronics and Microsoft Korea President Willy Cho pose for a photo at the inaugural ceremony of an "on-device AI challenge" program at a hotel in southern Seoul on Thursday. [LG ELECTRONICS]

LG Electronics' 2025 lineup of Gram laptops will be topped off with on-device AI services developed by homegrown startups.

The Korean electronics giant joined forces with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups as well as Intel and Microsoft to launch an "on-device AI challenge" program, with the participating parties offering operational, financial and technological support for 10 select fledgling companies.

The program will specifically acknowledge startups with innovative technology in security, entertainment, productivity, hardware and programs for on-device AI services.

"AI is closely related to new industry fields like system semiconductors [logical processors], the importance of which is expected to further grow in the global market," said Oh Young-joo, Minister of SMEs and Startups, during the program's inaugural event held in southern Seoul on Thursday.

"[The ministry] will support various programs like this challenge so that Korea's AI startups can secure competitiveness and a leading role on the global stage."

On-device AI enables data for AI applications to be processed without an internet connection, a feature that is expected to come in handy for real-time translation and multimedia content production. It also is necessary in natural disaster situations and cyber security enhancement.

"LG Electronics will collaborate with promising startups to find innovative on-device AI technology that can be applied to next-generation LG Gram laptops," said Jang Ik-hwan, executive vice president of LG Electronics' corporate IT service business.

Jang, who oversees the company's robot business, also said he is eyeing the right opportunity to advance into the U.S. service robot market, which has not yet blossomed.

"The U.S. service robot market is challenging to advance into so we are trying to use Bear Robotics, which we have recently made a strategic investment in, as a bridgehead for our U.S. foray as it is based in Silicon Valley and has more experience there," he said.

BY JIN EUN-SOO [jin.eunsoo@joongang.co.kr]