Samsung expands youth tech academy to train 2,000 AI experts annually

Samsung, South Korea’s largest conglomerate, announced plans to train 2,000 “artificial intelligence (AI) field experts” each year through an expanded version of its Software Academy for Youth (SSAFY). The initiative builds on the company’s existing software education efforts, which have already trained more than 10,000 unemployed young people since SSAFY launched in late 2018.

The updated program, renamed SSAFY 2.0, will increase total training hours from 1,600 to 1,725, with 60% (1,025 hours) focused on AI education and hands-on experience. Each year, unemployed individuals under the age of 29 will be selected to receive free, yearlong training in AI and software, along with a stipend of 12 million won (approximately $8,600).

The announcement was made on June 24 during the 12th SSAFY graduation ceremony at Samsung’s Seoul campus in Gangnam, where 981 graduates were recognized. This brought the total number of SSAFY alumni to 10,125.

Samsung said the expansion supports the new administration’s goal of positioning South Korea among the top three global AI powers—a vision reflected in the recent appointment of AI experts to key government posts.

As part of the upgrade, the SSAFY curriculum is undergoing a complete overhaul, shifting its focus from software to AI. All instruction will center on real-world applications. During the first semester, participants will complete foundational, intermediate, and advanced courses in AI programming. In the second semester, they will join AI workshops, working in teams to plan and execute practical projects—training intended to prepare them for industry demands from day one.

Samsung said faculty from leading universities—Seoul National University, KAIST, and Yonsei University—will provide direct instruction. High-performance GPU systems will also be available for AI coursework.

The intensive program has long drawn attention for its results. Although originally focused on software, SSAFY gained popularity among Korean youth by condensing a two- to three-year university curriculum into one year. Even graduates with degrees in the humanities have successfully transitioned into tech careers. Courses run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., totaling eight hours per day. Along with the stipend, many participants have praised SSAFY as being “better than having a regular job.”

Samsung’s renewed push for AI talent comes amid growing concerns about a widening skills gap in the field. According to a 2023 survey by the Software Policy Research Institute under the Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea faced a shortfall of 4,336 AI professionals, with developers making up 63% (2,721) of that deficit.

When President Lee met Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong at the SSAFY campus in March, the shortage of software and AI professionals was a central topic of discussion.

☞SSAFY

Originally, the acronym stood for “Samsung Software Academy for Youth,” a social contribution program that Samsung has run since 2018. As the focus of the training has shifted from software to AI, it now stands for “Samsung Software AI Academy for Youth.”