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AI Revolution: Trends and Prospects 2025

General Report January 12, 2025
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. Summary
  2. Current Trends in AI Adoption
  3. AI in Education: Controversies and Developments
  4. Transformations in the Job Market Due to AI
  5. AI and Misinformation: Challenges and Responses
  6. AI in Healthcare: Innovations and Ethical Considerations
  7. Security Trends and AI Integration
  8. Future Directions: AI in Business and Society
  9. Conclusion

1. Summary

  • As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies rapidly advance, they are poised to reshape numerous industries by 2025. The report delves into the evolving landscape of AI, covering areas such as AI agents, their penetration in public services, and endeavors in the educational sector with AI digital textbooks. Key developments include South Korean firms' strategic shifts for AI market survival and the introduction of AI assistants like Mcloudbridge's Ai 365 Copilot, designed to enhance business productivity. AI's implementation in public services highlights initiatives like the Hwaseong City Corporation's AI Complaint Forecasting system. Additionally, there is significant discourse around AI digital textbooks in education, met with skepticism by educators fearing a negative impact on classroom learning. Meanwhile, AI's transformative potential is visible in job markets where, according to the World Economic Forum, an expected net gain of 78 million jobs is anticipated by 2030, despite inevitable displacements. Generative AI is under scrutiny for its role in misinformation, necessitating innovative regulatory measures, while in healthcare, AI is seen as a boon for personalized medicine, despite data accessibility challenges. The report underscores the need to balance AI's promising innovations against ethical and societal concerns, emphasizing the moral responsibility that accompanies AI's pervasive integration into daily life.

2. Current Trends in AI Adoption

  • 2-1. Survival Strategies in the AI Industry

  • The South Korean AI industry is undergoing strategic changes for survival. Companies are shifting from mere technology development to ensuring profitability and building differentiated competitiveness. Amidst the global AI market's 'disillusionment phase' and a decline in investment sentiment, firms are seeking to secure proprietary products and specialize to overcome crises. According to a report by Gartner, released in Fall 2024, the generative AI industry has entered the 'disillusionment phase'. This stage indicates that the outcomes of AI technology have not met market and consumer expectations, resulting in increased criticism. Companies are adopting two main survival strategies: building high-performance AI models and infrastructure through massive capital investment or maximizing expertise in specific fields through vertical AI service strategies. Major global tech companies, such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, and NVIDIA, are leading the market by investing tens of trillions of won in AI technology and infrastructure each year. In contrast, South Korean firms are opting for specialization, targeting niche markets not seized by global companies. For instance, companies like Liner focus on search services for experts and researchers, while the company Ruten emphasizes providing real-time issue updates and support for task execution. This approach may limit market expansion but allows for building a stable revenue base before flexibly expanding services. Domestic large companies such as Naver and Kakao are adjusting their strategies to enhance user convenience by integrating AI into their platforms instead of competing directly with global tech giants, thereby strengthening existing services and maintaining their market position. Some companies explore IPOs as a potential breakthrough, with firms like Newen AI, Nota AI, and Morai preparing for IPOs this year while Super AI and Muhayu aim for listing in 2026. Although an IPO can secure significant funding and increase corporate awareness when successful, failure poses a high risk of losing financial stability and growth momentum, making it a 'high-risk, high-return' strategy. Meanwhile, the 'Framework Act on AI', which will form the legal basis for the development of AI industries, has recently passed the general assembly, though the coordination of detailed provisions is expected to be challenging.

  • 2-2. Launch of Ai 365 Copilot AI Agent Template

  • Mcloudbridge has launched a customized AI assistant, the 'Ai 365 Copilot AI Agent Template', designed to accelerate the implementation of Microsoft's Copilot. This template integrates not only Microsoft 365 data but also data from internal and external legacy systems like SAP and HR systems, thereby facilitating the rapid application of AI agents necessary for administrative management, knowledge management, and marketing tasks in businesses. In addition to standard Copilot functions such as summarizing meetings and drafting emails, the template automates tasks specific to administrative management and marketing, such as creating email accounts for new hires and analyzing client survey responses for feedback. The CEO of Mcloudbridge stated that this template addresses the compatibility issues of Microsoft's existing 365 Copilot with corporate legacy systems, which could hinder the expected productivity ROI after its implementation. Moreover, it is noted that templates specific to industrial scenarios will soon be released, and security risk, data access, and license management information will be visualized through an in-house developed monitoring system. The Ai 365 Copilot template is offered free of charge to enterprise customers with more than 20 users subscribed to Microsoft 365 Copilot, and Mcloudbridge provides free training sessions to review the details before implementation.

  • 2-3. AI in Public Services: Predicting and Preventing Complaints

  • The Hwaseong City Corporation has gained attention by implementing an AI-based system for processing public complaints, significantly improving public service quality. Their 'AI Complaint Forecasting' system has reduced the processing time for complaints by approximately 10 hours and decreased the monthly volume of complaints by up to 100%. This system analyzes a big data set of over 6,000 complaints received over the past four years through AI, allowing it to proactively identify potential complaint cases concerning citizen inconveniences. Subsequently, the relevant departments are informed of any necessary improvements to preemptively prevent complaints, thereby facilitating a citizen-centric public service approach. Notable examples of complaints predicted for 2024 include preventive measures for swimming pool safety incidents in May, addressing nighttime noise disturbances at sports facilities in June, and operating a prior reservation system for memorials during the Chuseok holiday in September. The forecasting process is overseen by the chief customer officer, ensuring that all employees cooperate to enhance the quality of public service provided to citizens. CEO Kim Geun-young remarked that complaints should not merely be treated as issues to be resolved but as crucial data for anticipating and responding to the needs of citizens and guiding the direction of the corporation's business.

3. AI in Education: Controversies and Developments

  • 3-1. Debate Over AI Digital Textbooks

  • The introduction of AI digital textbooks has become a hot topic in the educational sector. The Ministry of Education planned to introduce AI digital textbooks for mathematics, English, and information subjects starting in 2025, with a gradual expansion to social sciences and natural sciences by 2028. Beginning this year, AI digital textbooks were to be applied to 3rd and 4th graders in elementary school, 1st-year middle school students, and 1st-year high school students, while social and science subjects were planned for introduction in 2026, 2027, and 2028, respectively. However, the Korean language and technology/home economics subjects were excluded from this plan due to concerns about diminishing literacy in the Korean language and the practical nature of these subjects. This initiative faced pushback from the National Assembly, which passed a law designating AI digital textbooks as educational materials during a plenary session on the 26th of last month. While textbooks are mandatory for all schools, the adoption of educational materials is left to the discretion of school principals.

  • 3-2. Survey Results on Teacher Opinions

  • A recent survey conducted by the Good Teacher Movement Association and the National Mathematics Teachers' Association involving 672 math teachers from middle and high schools, as well as elementary school teachers, revealed that 89.6% opposed granting textbook status to AI textbooks. Furthermore, 75.9% believed that AI textbooks would not improve math classes, and 71% stated they would not help in addressing basic academic deficiencies. Additionally, 89.2% responded that AI textbooks would not contribute to reducing private tutoring costs. These findings indicate a significant skepticism among educators regarding the efficacy of AI digital textbooks.

  • 3-3. Legislative Actions Regarding AI in Education

  • The ongoing debate between the Ministry of Education and the National Assembly regarding AI digital textbooks reflects more than just differing opinions; it raises questions about the impact of these educational policies on student development. There are concerns about the potential negative effects of digital immersion, vision impairment, and decreased attention in classes among the issues anticipated with the introduction of AI digital textbooks. It stresses the importance of applying educational logic focused solely on the correct growth of children, without being influenced by political or economic arguments.

4. Transformations in the Job Market Due to AI

  • 4-1. Future Job Market Predictions

  • According to the World Economic Forum's 'Future of Jobs Report 2025', it is anticipated that by 2030, 86% of businesses will experience organizational transformations due to AI and information processing technologies. The expansion of digital accessibility is identified as the primary driver of this transformation, with 60% of companies expecting changes. Other significant drivers include robots and autonomous systems (58%) and energy generation and storage technologies (41%). Following the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, investments in AI have increased eightfold, leading to enhanced investments in physical infrastructure such as servers and power plants.

  • 4-2. Creation of New Jobs vs. Job Displacement

  • The report indicates that the spread of AI and digital technologies is projected to impact approximately 22% of jobs globally. By 2030, it is expected that around 170 million new jobs will be created due to technological changes, while approximately 92 million jobs will be displaced. This results in a net increase of about 78 million jobs, representing 7% of total employment. The report highlights that technology-related positions such as data specialists, fintech engineers, and AI and machine learning experts are expected to grow the fastest. In contrast, jobs such as bank clerks, postal service workers, and data entry personnel are predicted to decline sharply due to AI and automation.

  • 4-3. Growing Demand for Data and AI Experts

  • The advancement of AI is not merely substituting jobs but also creating new forms of human-machine collaboration. Companies are supporting their employees in utilizing AI technology to engage in more creative and strategic tasks. The potential of AI applications could enhance operational efficiency by up to 100 times, indicating a significant demand for data and AI experts in the workforce.

5. AI and Misinformation: Challenges and Responses

  • 5-1. Role of Generative AI in Spreading Misinformation

  • According to a report released by the University of Cambridge, Generative AI (GenAI) plays a crucial role in the spread of misinformation, driven by economic incentives. The research included an ethnographic study conducted over 15 months in Brazil and the United States, analyzing how everyday users generate and disseminate misinformation using GenAI. The report systematically outlines the economic motivations of misinformation creators and their strategies for using GenAI, providing significant insights that differ from previous misinformation studies.

  • 5-2. User Demographics and Content Creation

  • The economic motivation behind misinformation creation, notably described in the 'Influencer Millionaire' syndrome report, indicates that the primary reason misinformation creators utilize GenAI is for financial gain. Many respondents held the belief that 'anyone can become rich through content creation' and used GenAI to produce content in large volumes. Among participants aged 13 to 26, 57% expressed a desire to become influencers, and 50% stated they would quit their current jobs if they could be assured of income. Notably, GenAI enables individuals lacking in writing or video editing skills to produce high volumes of content. These creators prioritize the potential for virality over the truthfulness of misinformation, thereby enhancing the quantitative aspect of false information rather than its quality.

  • 5-3. Need for New Regulatory Approaches

  • The report emphasizes that GenAI has lowered the barriers to entry for misinformation production, creating an environment where anyone can become a content creator, subsequently accelerating the spread of misinformation. Examples cited include a participant from Brazil, who produced political misinformation content that garnered millions of views on TikTok during the 2022 Brazilian presidential election. The individual stated that the quickest way to make money was to upload videos on YouTube, indicating that the content was created more due to economic incentives than political beliefs. The democratization of misinformation has led to a landscape where the volume of misleading content proliferates rapidly, necessitating platforms and regulatory agencies to adopt more sophisticated approaches to counteract this new reality.

6. AI in Healthcare: Innovations and Ethical Considerations

  • 6-1. Role of AI in Medical Research

  • The role of AI in medical research is increasingly recognized as pivotal. According to Jang Ryung-Woo, Lead of Clinical Research at Coreline Soft, 'medical scientists' who prioritize AI research over traditional hospital roles are transforming the medical landscape. They can save hundreds or thousands of lives through technology, rather than focusing solely on individual patient care.

  • 6-2. Challenges for Trust and Data Accessibility

  • Despite the growth of the medical AI market, significant challenges remain. Jang Ryung-Woo pointed out that issues such as data accessibility and quality, trust among healthcare professionals, and market acceptance are critical hurdles. Legal and ethical challenges involved in securing medical data further complicate this process. The lack of data standardization is highlighted as a barrier hindering AI's performance and reliability.

  • 6-3. Impact of AI on Personalized Medicine

  • AI's potential in enhancing personalized medicine is significant. Jang expressed that if these challenges are addressed, the realization of tailored precision medicine could happen rapidly. For instance, using AI in lung cancer surgeries could improve the accuracy of measuring malignant tumors. The integration of AI into clinical guidelines can enhance surgical precision, demonstrating AI's impactful role in contemporary medical practice.

7. Security Trends and AI Integration

  • 7-1. Predicted Security Trends for 2025

  • According to the report released by SecuEye, five critical security trends for 2025 have been identified, highlighting the evolving threats associated with AI. One significant trend is the 'double-edged sword of the AI era,' where both AI-based cyber threats and security technologies are expected to expand significantly. The utilization of generative AI and large language models (LLM) is anticipated to increase, implying that AI will be continuously exploited in cyber attacks while being utilized in defensive security technologies.

  • 7-2. AI's Role in Cybersecurity

  • AI is projected to play a crucial role in enhancing cybersecurity measures. It enables rapid analysis of vast data sets to identify vulnerabilities that human operators might overlook. AI is also expected to learn previously unknown attack patterns and defend against emerging threats. Moreover, automated security systems using machine learning will streamline repetitive security tasks and facilitate swift responses during attacks. This indicates that advanced AI technologies will be essential for effectively addressing increasingly sophisticated security threats in 2025.

  • 7-3. Potential Risks and Mitigation Strategies

  • The report anticipates a rise in hybrid attacks that combine ransomware with DDoS techniques. As cyber threats become more accessible through dark web platforms, even individuals without specialized knowledge may execute attacks more easily. This trend increases the risk of attacks that paralyze services and threaten ransom demands. To combat these risks, organizations must regularly assess security equipment for vulnerabilities and implement robust incident response training and protocols.

8. Future Directions: AI in Business and Society

  • 8-1. Anticipated AI Innovations by 2025

  • According to various reports, 2025 is expected to be a significant turning point where artificial intelligence (AI) will become a core infrastructure in our lives and businesses. Innovations are anticipated in numerous areas including AI agents, specialized AI solutions, AI PCs, and advanced AI user experiences (UX). The rise of AI agents is highlighted as a key direction, where these agents will evolve beyond simple automation to independently perform complex tasks. Gartner predicts that by 2025, AI agents will become a leading technological trend, capable of executing business-related tasks without human intervention. Furthermore, personalized AI solutions tailored to the unique characteristics of different industries will gain importance, moving away from one-size-fits-all approaches. The popularization of AI PCs and the activation of edge computing, which reduces dependency on cloud services and enhances data privacy, are also profiled. The evolution of AI into a digital companion will fundamentally redefine user experience and business processes, highlighting a trend towards the normalization of AI in daily life.

  • 8-2. Integration of AI in Various Industries

  • The integration of AI across multiple sectors has seen significant advancements. Industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare are witnessing the disruptive potential of AI technologies. For example, AI-powered robots are enhancing productivity in smart factories, automating quality control processes, and improving working environments through collaboration with human workers. In logistics, autonomous robots are optimizing the movement of goods within warehouses, while surgical robots are providing precision support in medical procedures, illustrating the transformative nature of physical AI. Additionally, the rise of video AI technologies is revolutionizing content creation with capabilities for video generation, editing, and analysis. This integration is not only enhancing operational efficiencies but also reshaping the foundational aspects of various industries.

  • 8-3. Importance of Ethical AI Development

  • The ethical implications of AI development are increasingly coming under scrutiny as these technologies become more pervasive. As AI capabilities advance, the societal gap between those who can leverage these technologies and those who cannot is likely to widen significantly. Reports stress the necessity of focusing on real-world problem-solving through AI and underline that the biggest challenges in 2025 may not be technical but rather social in nature. Furthermore, enhancing AI ethics is crucial to ensure responsible use, especially to combat issues like misinformation and job displacement. There is a strong emphasis on the need for regulatory frameworks that promote ethical AI practices, to ensure that the benefits of artificial intelligence are distributed equitably across society.

Conclusion

  • The findings indicate that AI agents are set to redefine efficiency across industries, particularly in public services where they facilitate citizen-centric approaches through automation. Generative AI, while advancing content creation, poses significant risks related to misinformation, requiring stringent regulatory frameworks to mitigate these challenges. The adoption of AI in education remains controversial, driven by concerns about its impact on learning quality, highlighting the necessity for judicious integration that prioritizes educational efficacy. In healthcare, AI's influence is profound, enhancing precision in treatment and research, though marred by data-related hurdles. The anticipated job market shift presents both opportunities with the creation of new roles and challenges due to job displacements, underscoring the need for workforce upskilling. Acknowledging these dynamics, it is imperative for stakeholders to engage in sustained dialogue to harness AI’s potential ethically and equitably. Future prospects hinge on developing robust guidelines that promote ethical AI development to ensure these technologies benefit society as a whole, drive economic growth, and minimize adverse impacts. Effective application of AI solutions, conscious of ethical implications, will be crucial in navigating its transformative role in global societies and economies.

Glossary

  • AI Agents [Technology]: AI agents represent a significant advancement in artificial intelligence, capable of autonomously performing tasks traditionally requiring human intervention. Their growing adoption across various sectors, including public services and customer support, highlights the shift towards automated solutions that enhance efficiency and user experience.
  • Generative AI [Technology]: Generative AI technologies are instrumental in content creation and data analysis, yet they have also been implicated in the spread of misinformation. Understanding the dual-edged nature of these technologies is crucial as they continue to evolve and integrate into daily life.

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