AI Festa 2025 — Field Notes from the Final Day
Even if you don’t deeply understand AI technology, we now live in an era where everyone can use it. In that sense, AI Festa 2025 was a must-see event — one that let visitors truly experience how artificial intelligence is shaping our world. I attended on the final day around noon. Perhaps because of the timing, the venue was quieter than expected. At the entrance, a large event banner greeted visitors taking photos in groups. After scanning my pre-registered QR code at the reception, I received a printed ticket, which then needed to be scanned again at the gate. I wondered why direct mobile entry wasn’t allowed — but there must have been a system behind it.
A Walk Through the Exhibition Halls
The moment I entered, I realized how vast the scope of AI had become. Each booth presented AI in its own unique way — some through dazzling displays, others through quiet, hands-on experiences. What drew the most attention were the robots. A humanoid robot walking and greeting people, and a playful dog-like robot circling around the area, both served as living performances. It felt as though AI had stepped out of screens and into the physical world.
Beyond being an industry showcase, AI Festa 2025 was a space that inspired imagination about the future. Walking through the booths, I felt that AI is no longer confined to one field — it has become a universal language across industries. From news, perfume, education, healthcare, and defense to government and culture, every domain was being redefined by AI. Some booths let visitors discover AI-powered fragrance recommendations, automated document generation, or facial recognition systems. Among them, the most fascinating was MARKETON’s holographic password system — where floating buttons in the air could be pressed without physical contact. It truly felt like a scene from a sci-fi movie.
AI Beyond Algorithms: Human Experience
Another highlight was the wide range of cloud computing services — from Naver Cloud and Kakao Cloud to Google, Huawei, Tencent, Alibaba, and KT Cloud. The exhibition didn’t just showcase AI applications; it emphasized where and how massive data is stored, processed, and scaled. It became clear that AI’s growth depends on powerful, real-time cloud infrastructure — a partnership that will continue shaping the digital future.
As I explored further, I noticed how AI is evolving into a technology that designs human experiences. Once hidden behind algorithms, AI now interacts directly with human senses — recommending scents, adjusting the lighting in photos by time of day, and enabling touch-free holographic interfaces. These examples showed how AI is becoming increasingly human-centered.
Healthcare & Compassionate Tech
The healthcare section was also remarkable. Exhibits demonstrated AI systems that monitor the health of elderly people living alone, detect unusual patterns, and alert caregivers in advance. Others focused on AI-driven drug discovery and digital health monitoring. Seeing technology extend from convenience to compassion — into caregiving and medical innovation — was deeply moving.
Insights and Reflections
On the other hand, AI in manufacturing was surprisingly underrepresented. Considering its potential for automation and process optimization, it seemed like an untapped blue ocean with immense growth ahead.
At the center of the hall, one phrase stood out to me:
“The technology to control AI — that will define the next five years.”
As AI advances rapidly, how we manage and guide it will become the defining challenge of our era. With progress comes responsibility, and the future will depend on how wisely humanity steers this technology.
Overall, the event reminded me that AI is no longer just a tool — it has become the infrastructure of modern society. From corporate strategy to public services, education, and healthcare, AI now underpins every layer of innovation. At the core of it all lies data — collected, analyzed, and transformed back into services. This pattern appeared across almost every booth.
I also noticed the pervasive use of QR codes — not only for entry but also for surveys, event participation, and prize draws. Every interaction was digitized, feeding back into data systems for further AI-driven insights. It was a vivid reminder that even our smallest actions are now part of the data ecosystem.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, AI Festa 2025 was more than a technology showcase — it was a reflection of where we stand and where we’re headed. It made me realize that AI is no longer “emerging technology” but the foundation of every future innovation. Imagining how these technologies will blend into daily life — perhaps within just a year or two — made this visit especially meaningful.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you, too, stay inspired by the incredible world of AI!
You can view the original blog post in Korean at the links below: