Professor Youngjae Jang of KAIST (CEO of DAIM Research) emphasized at the 2026 Physical AI Industry Outlook Conference that the key to AI transformation in manufacturing lies not in adopting individual technologies, but in transforming the operating system. He pointed out that manufacturing AI has so far developed only in isolated areas, leaving MES, production robots, and logistics systems disconnected and out of sync. He explained that overcoming the limitations of partial automation and organically connecting the entire production process are essential to achieving a meaningful return on investment (ROI).

CEO Jang also proposed that manufacturers should create transparent factories by integrating the entire production lifecycle, from production planning to shipment. He encouraged companies to adopt a lean startup approach by applying technologies quickly in real-world environments and continuously improving them, rather than striving for perfect designs from the outset. He concluded by presenting a new vision for Korea's manufacturing industry, stating that the future lies not only in exporting products, but also in exporting Korean-style integrated factory systems that encompass factory design, construction, and operation.