Shift Up CEO Kim Hyung-tae has laid out his stance on the integration of generative AI. He argues that to counter China’s brute-force approach of throwing massive headcounts at projects, we must empower individuals with AI so that one developer can punch at the weight of a hundred.

Kim attended the '2026 Economic Growth Strategy - The First Year of Korea's Economic Leap' report held at the Blue House on the 9th, where he offered his insights on the gaming industry and AI technology. He voiced a clear sense of urgency regarding China's massive workforce and insisted that leveraging AI is the only way to bridge the gap.

“80% of our revenue comes from overseas, and the first rivals we run into are always Chinese games,” Kim noted. “While we might pour 150 people into a single title, they are deploying 1,000 to 2,000. Quite frankly, we lack the sheer capacity to match them in content volume or perfection.”

This is where AI becomes a necessity, according to Kim. “I don’t believe AI will lead to mass unemployment. We need every hand on deck, but those people must become AI-proficient. If one person can perform the work of a hundred, that’s the only way we can stand toe-to-toe with the industrial giants of China and the US.”

He emphasized that while semiconductor advancement is vital, supporting the public in using AI efficiently is equally critical. “Korea’s paid ChatGPT subscription rate is the second highest in the world, right after the US. The younger generation is naturally adept at this. AI is their future, and it can be a transformative vision for our entire industry.”

Specifically, he proposed supporting startups that build platforms to lower the barrier for AI adoption. “Taking on Google or Amazon directly with AI isn’t realistic. Instead, we should support startups creating API-based platforms and foster a social system that makes these tools accessible to everyone.”

He pointed to examples like Pixverse or Pixfield—all-in-one platforms that bundle individual AI technologies for everyday professional use. Kim added, “I believe our local startups are much better at crafting these types of platforms. Nurturing such companies is a highly accessible way for the masses to utilize multiple AI tools in one place.”

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young added, “AI support for the gaming industry is a critical task. Large firms have their own proprietary tech, and we are developing programs to ensure growth alongside smaller studios. We have secured a budget this year to initiate new investments and plan to provide dedicated funding to help SMEs subscribe to AI services.”