KT Corp., South Korea’s leading internet service provider determined to lead the global race in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, has announced a bold plan to groom employees as AI specialists.

KT in March launched an internal program to educate and train its employees to become AI specialists, according to industry sources on Thursday. It has set out on a goal to turn out 1,500 AI specialists by 2022. It rounded up 381 employees for the first round of the AI training program. It aims to retrain about 400 employees on AI technology every year, and candidates will be selected regardless of their age, job duties, and position, it said.

Its AI specialist program is broken largely into two parts – a six month education course on AI technology and one-year on-the-job training involving AI technology related tasks.

All employees who complete the training program will be involved in AI related works.

It reportedly is the first time for the company to run an employee training program to back a new business.

KT has been moving actively to obtain a leading position in the AI market. In February, it formed an alliance with local businesses and universities to collaborate on developing AI talents and exploring new opportunities in the area. Its partners include shipbuilding giant Hyundai Heavy Industries Holding and the country’s top engineering school Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.

By Lim Young-shin and Cho Jeehyun

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