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(Seoul=News1) Reporter Lee Minju = 13 Korean AI startups selected by OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, expressed their expectations for collaboration, including service upgrades, ahead of their visit to the U.S. headquarters.

The collaborating companies requested early access to OpenAI's latest services, including the next-generation AI model GPT-5, before its public release. Companies visiting Silicon Valley for the first time called for expanded networking opportunities with local businesses, AI experts, and investors.

On the 30th, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups held a "Meeting with K-Startups Collaborating with OpenAI" at Startup Alliance in Gangnam-gu.

The meeting was arranged to share plans for collaboration events with OpenAI and discuss ways to create outcomes through cooperation. Thirteen AI-related startups selected through domestic preliminaries attended the event.

The ministry confirmed that the main event of the OpenAI collaboration program will be held in mid-March at the headquarters in San Francisco, USA. Key details such as meetings with OpenAI developers, K-Startup IR sessions, and networking among participants are currently under discussion.

Startups participating in the meeting unanimously expressed their desire to have early access to OpenAI's latest models to enhance their services before the main event.

Kim Hyun-jong, CEO of WeRazer, said, "We want to upgrade our AI AGENT's logic using the GPT-4V API. In the market, it's crucial to provide good services faster (than others). We hope the collaborating companies will have the opportunity to use (OpenAI's) most recent models."

Park Ji-hyuk, CEO of Waddle, also said, "We hope for early access to new technologies like GPT-4 vision or voice models."

Some are looking to explore networking opportunities on-site.

Kim Da-won, CEO of Marina Chain, said, "We're looking forward to networking opportunities with OpenAI representatives and other U.S. startup leaders. We'd also like to communicate with AI experts, industry leaders, speakers, and panelists, and hope to continue this to have more networking events among AI-developing startups. We also request events that reflect Silicon Valley's cultural characteristics."

Many are also eyeing opportunities to enter the U.S. market through this collaboration.

Lee Dong-heon, CEO of Asleep, said, "While the domestic sleep market is large, countries that have quickly entered advanced markets like the U.S. and Japan emphasize the importance of sleep. We want to create opportunities to formally enter the U.S. market during this trip (collaboration)."

Cho Jun-ho, CEO of Cliownt, mentioned their interest in the U.S. public bidding market, which is worth about 900 trillion won.

Ji Gwang-cheol, CEO of Next Payments, expressed their plans to expand into North America this year and their desire to explore how their smart store technology could be applied in the U.S. market.

Lim Jung-wook, Director of the Startup and Venture Office at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, promised to carefully review the startups' requests and urged them to prepare well to appeal attractively in the U.S.

Lim encouraged the startups, saying, "The network of Korean engineers and VCs (in Silicon Valley) is said to be impressive. We're planning to invite and introduce them to you. For this, please prepare to pitch your company most attractively in English. You are the companies chosen by OpenAI."

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