'SSAFY (Samsung Software AI Academy For Youth),' a youth AI and software education program operated by Samsung Electronics, has produced its 14th cohort of graduates. With the cumulative number of employed graduates approaching 10,000 since its launch, the curriculum, which allocated 60% of the total training time to AI, is cited as a key feature of this cohort.

Samsung Electronics held the graduation ceremony for the 14th class at the SSAFY Seoul Campus in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 30th. The event was attended by approximately 100 people, including Vice Minister of Employment and Labor Kwon Chang-jun, People Power Party lawmaker Seo Il-jun, KAIST Professor Ryu Seok-young (SSAFY advisory committee member), and Samsung Electronics President Park Seung-hee (CR). Graduates from regional campuses participated online.

Starting with the 1st class in December 2018, a cumulative total of over 11,000 people have completed SSAFY up to the 13th class.

Of these, 9,396 people found employment, bringing the cumulative employment rate to approximately 85%.

If early employed individuals from the 14th batch are included, the cumulative number of employed individuals approaches approximately 10,000.

Samsung Electronics stated that there are over 2,600 companies where graduates have been employed, and 185 companies that give preferential treatment to SSAFY graduates, such as exemption from document screening or additional points.

The 14th SSAFY allocated 1,025 hours (approximately 60%) of its annual 1,725-hour training course to AI education and practice.

Along with AI theory classes, we established an AI server environment equipped with high-performance GPUs and provided all trainees with AI development PCs equipped with GPUs.

Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude were also used in education.

In the team project, the 'X-STRIX' team developed a security robot applying a VLA (Vision-Language-Action) model that integrates visual information, language understanding, and behavior control.

The location identification accuracy was increased from 51.4% to 78.1%, and three types of AI solutions for detecting fire, intruders, and hazardous objects were installed.

The 'SPOT GET IT' team showcased a four-legged rescue robot for disaster site exploration.

Corporate collaboration projects were also carried out in parallel.

A team that collaborated with Metalogy developed a service called 'MoM (Model of Me)' that generates a 3D body model using only smartphone video.

Arm & middo without a dedicated scannerIt was explained that it implements a function to measure leg and waist circumference and length, analyze joint posture in real time during exercise, and correct it via voice, and that the entire process is processed in real time on the device.

Last June, SSAFY co-hosted an AI hackathon with Kakao and carried out projects aimed at solving social problems, such as resolving public complaints, protecting children and youth, and analyzing marine risks.

In the 'AI Fintech Idea Contest' linked with Woori Bank, ideas for AI-based solutions to prevent financial crimes were also presented.

The five major banks, including Shinhan, Woori, KB, Hana, and NongHyup, donated a total of 7.5 billion won to SSAFY over three years after signing a business agreement with Samsung in 2023.

To date, approximately 840 SSAFY graduates have been employed by the top five banks.

Park Seung-hee, President of Samsung Electronics’ Corporate Relations Division, stated, “AI is no longer a future technology but is changing the very way we work,” adding, “Bravely take on challenges in the future that lies ahead, and even fail.”
He said, “That failure will become nourishment for success.”