AR Surgery Training and AI Quality Inspection: Startups Leading the Innovation of the Future

On the Second Day of the Event, Startups Draw Crowds with Future-Driven Innovations in AR Surgery and AI Inspection

On the second day of the event, the Digital Innovation Hall—featuring 20 startups—drew hundreds of visitors. The crowd came to experience cutting-edge services based on AI, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR). New technology and product presentations were also a major draw. Over 200 venture capitalists and investors packed the venue. Startup CEOs expressed their ambitions to take their innovations beyond Korea and into global markets.

One notable participant was SKIA, a medical startup that showcased its AR-based surgical assistance solution, SKIA_OPD. SKIA’s technology reconstructs internal organs into 3D images by projecting the patient's body in real-time. This allows surgeons to improve surgical precision and enables patients to better understand their procedures. The company is conducting clinical trials for breast cancer surgeries at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital and Asan Medical Center. A SKIA representative stated, “We’re already supplying this solution to outpatient departments at major hospitals in India and expect it to be fully commercialized in Korea by 2026 as a surgical assistance tool.”

Another startup, Tlabs, has developed TeeVR, a technology that converts real-world 3D spaces into digital environments. Users can digitally replicate actual spaces and then modify or remove objects within them. Applications range widely—from virtual exhibitions and shopping malls to autonomous driving systems.

WATA, an AI-based warehouse management platform, integrates 3D LiDAR with forklifts to collect real-time logistics data and visualize inventory. The AI determines shelf assignments for incoming inventory and measures the size and weight of goods to automate storage and retrieval processes.

At World IT Show 2024, six companies received Innovation Awards.Winners of the Minister of Science and ICT Award include:

• Volt Creation (V Glass)

• Marketon (Hovering Hologram)

• FRT Robotics (4th Gen Step-Up)

• ESTsoft (PersoLive)

• Road Systems (TripPass)

• Mirrorroid (Mirat AI Mirror)

  
  

received the Excellence Award from the World IT Show Organizing Committee. Jang Yang-ho, CEO of Road Systems—which has developed a mobile version of the electronic passport—stated, “We aim to usher in a passport-free era by providing mobile passports to 1.4 billion international travelers.” Road Systems operates TripPass, a blockchain-based platform for mobile passports. In addition to ID verification, users can use the platform for duty-free shopping, transportation services, and hotel payments. Jang added, “We’re preparing a beta version of our mobile passport service with Japanese telecom companies, and expect it to enable travel to Japan as early as July this year.”

AI-human companies also garnered attention. ESTsoft showcased PersoLive, a conversational AI assistant integrated with ChatGPT, capable of responding to user questions within 3 seconds. Using their Perso AI studio, companies can input basic content to generate one-minute AI-human videos in just 40 seconds—for under 10,000 KRW (approx. $7.50). ESTsoft CEO Jung Sang-won stated, “We’re collaborating with a major Japanese LLM company to create AI humans featuring popular Japanese comedians.”

Korea Economic Daily, Reporter Kangho JangApril 18, 2024

Original article: https://www.hankyung.com/article/2024041811991