Seoul Hosts 27th World Knowledge Forum on Artificial Intelligence under 'The Promethean Moment' Theme

Key facts

• The 27th World Knowledge Forum opened in Seoul, South Korea, bringing together global political leaders, scientists, technology pioneers and business leaders to examine humanity's future in an era shaped by artificial intelligence.
• The three-day forum is being held at The Shilla Seoul and Jangchung Arena under the theme 'The Promethean Moment: Architecting the Co-Intelligence Order'.
• Former British Prime Minister David Cameron delivered the forum's opening special address.
• Speaker of South Korea's National Assembly Cho Jeong-sik said artificial intelligence has moved beyond the boundaries of technology and is fundamentally changing the way people work and live.
• Cho Jeong-sik cautioned that the rapid rise of AI is creating ethical and social challenges, including job losses, growing inequality and human alienation.
• Cho Jeong-sik said AI must be a tool to expand human potential rather than replace people, likening it to humanity harnessing Prometheus' fire.
• Maekyung Media Group Chairman Chang Dae-whan said the defining challenge of the AI revolution is not technological invention alone but how widely and deeply AI spreads across society.
• Chang Dae-whan announced Maekyung Media Group's ambition for an 'AI Native Korea' where all citizens use AI as fluently as their mother tongue.
• Chang Dae-whan described 'Co-Intelligence' as humans using AI to broaden the horizons of their thinking while AI operates within norms set by humans.
• In his keynote address, David Cameron described a 'double-headed crisis' of an increasingly dangerous world and unstable, populist-driven domestic politics.
• Cameron warned that political instability, economic dislocation, uncontrolled migration and the growing influence of social media are weakening consensus and pushing societies towards greater polarisation.
• Cameron said countries must prioritise both economic and national security, noting there is no national security without economic security.
• Cameron urged leaders to build stronger alliances based on shared values and interests and cautioned against expecting global institutions alone to resolve emerging geopolitical challenges.
• Cameron described South Korea as a global example of how political and economic choices shape national destiny, crediting its rise to democracy, the rule of law and free enterprise economics.
• The forum's international speaker line-up includes Oxford University Emeritus Professor Richard Dawkins, former New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Stanford University Professor Erik Brynjolfsson, former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Google X founder Sebastian Thrun, and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals founder and CEO Leonard Schleifer.
• Drawing on the Greek myth of Prometheus, the forum describes artificial intelligence as the 'fire of the 21st century', a force capable of transforming civilisation while carrying significant risks if left unchecked.
• Under the 'Co-Intelligence' theme, discussions over the three days will focus on five key pillars: Power, Capital, Intelligence, Planet and Humanity.