SK Intellix is joining forces with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) to develop cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI)-powered mental health and wellness services. The partnership aims to fast-track the commercialization of next-generation healthcare solutions by making their innovative wellness robot platform available to researchers.
On Tuesday, SK Intellix announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with KAIST. This agreement focuses on the development and enhancement of software for AI-driven mental health and wellness services based on wellness robotics.
The collaboration encompasses joint research on AI-based mental health and wellness services, the creation of demonstration environments, utilization of research datasets, and the development of personalized wellness management solutions. Both parties will also participate in government-sponsored demonstration projects and national research and development (R&D) initiatives. Additionally, they plan to implement industry-academia cooperation programs, including hackathons and internships.
A cornerstone of this partnership is the utilization of SK Intellix’s wellness robot, NAMUHX, as a research platform. The company will provide researchers with application programming interfaces (APIs), enabling them to validate AI algorithms and wellness services in real-world environments. This approach aims to support the swift commercialization of research findings.
Through this collaboration, SK Intellix plans to refine its AI-powered personalized mental health services and broaden their applications. The company’s strategy involves expanding its service offerings beyond mental health to encompass various healthcare domains by integrating AI and robotics technologies.
Kim Hyung-jin, head of the NAMUHX division at SK Intellix, expressed optimism about the partnership: It believes the joint research with KAIST will significantly enhance the competitiveness of the AI and robotics-based wellness services. This collaboration will enable them to rapidly implement research outcomes into practical applications.
Lee Eui-jin, head of KAIST’s AI Computing Department, shared his perspective: It anticipates that this joint research, utilizing real products and development environments, will not only improve the practical applications of AI technology but also provide the students with valuable industry-linked research experiences.