HD Hyundai, Google Cloud team up to accelerate generative AI innovation

HD Hyundai Co., South Korea’s shipbuilding-to-heavy machinery conglomerate, said on Tuesday it has teamed up with Google Cloud, the information technology unit of Google Inc., to accelerate its digital transformation based on generative artificial intelligence.

HD Hyundai and Google Cloud have formed a strategic partnership to use the US firm’s multimodal AI model Gemini, unveiled earlier this month, across the Korean company’s core businesses, including shipbuilding, heavy machinery and energy.

Under the partnership, Google Cloud will provide HD Hyundai with enterprise tools such as the Vertex AI platform to develop industry-specific AI applications.

Starting in January 2024, HD Hyundai and Google Cloud will develop various AI solutions tailored to industry-specific needs and cultivate AI experts at the Korean conglomerate.

Earlier this year, HD Hyundai launched its AI Center to develop and adopt generative AI technology across its key business segments.

Formerly Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, HD Hyundai has three intermediate holding companies under its wing: HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. (HD KSOE), the world’s largest shipbuilder; HD Hyundai XiteSolution Co., a heavy machinery maker; and HD Hyundai Oilbank Co., one of Korea’s leading oil refiners.

With about 35,000 employees at its subsidiaries, the conglomerate transformed into a holding company structure in March 2018 with total assets reaching $59.5 billion.

HD HYUNDAI’S AI TIE-UPS WITH OTHER PARTNERS

HD Hyundai has already formed partnerships with other companies to develop generative AI platforms, which create novel content by utilizing original data such as audio, videos, images and texts.

In July, the company joined hands with Google Cloud for a pilot project to offer a generative AI service at HD Hyundai Construction Equipment Co.’s after-sales call center.

In September, it partnered with POSCO Holdings Inc., the parent of Korea’s top steelmaker, to develop smart unmanned systems technology.

In October, HD Hyundai collaborated with Germany’s Siemens AG to build a smart shipyard.

Under the deal, HD Hyundai will use Siemens’ technology to develop a manufacturing platform for vessel design and production.

“Combining the vast data that we have accumulated over the years with Google Cloud’s generative AI technology will create huge synergy,” said an HD Hyundai official. “We’ll actively use AI across our subsidiaries to improve work efficiency and enhance customer satisfaction.”

Underscoring the importance of the HD Hyundai-Google Cloud partnership, Philip Moyer, vice president of Global AI Business and Solutions at Google Cloud, will speak during HD Hyundai’s keynote session at CES 2024 in Las Vegas next month.

Write to Hyung-Kyu Kim at khk@hankyung.com

In-Soo Nam edited this article.