Sunghee Yun (He/Him)

Co-Founder & CTO @ Erudio Bio, Inc., Co-Founder & CEO @ Erudio Bio Korea, Inc., Leader of Silicon Valley Privacy Preserving AI Forum (K-PAI), AI-Korean Medicine Integration Initiative Task Force Member @ The Association of Korean Medicine, KFAS-Salzburg Global Leadership Initiative Fellow @ Salzburg Global Seminar, Adjunct Professor @ Sogang University, Advisory Professor @ DGIST, Global Advisory Board Member @ Innovative Future Brain-Inspired Intelligence System Semiconductor of Sogang University, Network Expert @ Gerson Lehrman Group, Advisor & Evangelist @ CryptoLab, Inc., Chief Business Development Officer @ WeStory.ai

Abstract

The global food industry stands at the threshold of its most profound transformation since the Green Revolution, as Artificial Intelligence technologies pioneered in Silicon Valley laboratories now converge with agriculture, food production, and culinary innovation to reshape how humanity grows, processes, and consumes food. This seminar traces the remarkable journey of AI from its deep learning renaissance in Silicon Valley’s research institutions to its current manifestation as a general-purpose technology revolutionizing every sector of the food economy from precision agriculture and supply chain optimization to personalized nutrition and sustainable food systems. Understanding this transformation requires more than familiarity with AI techniques; it demands insight into Silicon Valley’s unique innovation ecosystem that birthed these technologies, the economic forces driving their adoption, and the specific mechanisms through which AI creates value in food-related industries. Drawing from cross-sector experience spanning industrial AI at Amazon and Gauss Labs, biotech innovation at Erudio Bio, and engagements with leading research institutions, this presentation provides Jeju Province’s food industry leaders and entrepreneurs with essential frameworks for harnessing AI’s transformative potential.

The first half of the seminar decodes Silicon Valley’s AI landscape, revealing how today’s foodtech revolution builds upon decades of algorithmic innovation, computational infrastructure development, and ecosystem cultivation. We’ll explore the progression from early machine learning applications to today’s sophisticated large language models and agentic AI systems, examining why Silicon Valley became the epicenter of this technological revolution and what lessons its innovation culture holds for other regions and industries. Through detailed technical exposition accessible to non-specialists, participants will understand core AI architectures—from computer vision systems that monitor crop health to reinforcement learning algorithms that optimize food production—and how these technologies have evolved to address increasingly complex real-world challenges. This foundation is critical because effective AI deployment in foodtech requires understanding not just what AI can do, but why certain approaches succeed while others fail, and how to evaluate emerging AI capabilities against specific business needs in the food industry.

The second half examines AI’s multifaceted applications across the food value chain, providing concrete frameworks for identifying opportunities and implementing solutions. We’ll explore technology applications spanning precision agriculture (satellite imagery analysis, autonomous farming equipment, predictive yield modeling), food processing optimization (quality control through computer vision, process automation, waste reduction), supply chain intelligence (demand forecasting, logistics optimization, inventory management), and consumer-facing innovations (personalized nutrition, food discovery platforms, dietary recommendation systems). Beyond technology, we’ll address critical business dimensions: how startups can leverage AI to disrupt traditional food systems, how established food companies should approach AI transformation, what entrepreneurial opportunities emerge at the intersection of AI and foodtech, and how to build sustainable competitive advantages in an AI-enabled food economy. Case studies from successful foodtech ventures will illustrate diverse business models—from vertical farming operations using AI for crop optimization to food delivery platforms employing machine learning for logistics, from ingredient discovery startups accelerating R&D to restaurant chains personalizing customer experiences through data analytics.

This seminar equips Jeju Province’s food industry stakeholders with actionable insights for navigating the AI transformation, balancing technological possibility with practical implementation realities. Participants will leave with frameworks for evaluating AI opportunities specific to their contexts, understanding investment priorities, building necessary capabilities, and positioning their organizations—whether startups or established enterprises—for success in an AI-driven food economy. Beyond immediate business applications, we’ll address how AI enables the food industry to tackle pressing global challenges including food security, sustainability, and nutritional health, creating opportunities for innovation that generates both economic value and societal impact. Ultimately, this session prepares Jeju’s food industry leaders not merely to adopt AI technologies, but to become architects of the next generation of food innovation—developing strategic vision that combines technological literacy with deep understanding of agricultural systems, consumer needs, and market dynamics in the age of intelligent machines.

shorter version

The global food industry stands at the threshold of its most profound transformation since the Green Revolution, as Artificial Intelligence technologies pioneered in Silicon Valley laboratories now converge with agriculture, food production, and culinary innovation. This seminar traces AI’s remarkable journey from its deep learning renaissance in Silicon Valley’s research institutions to its current manifestation as a general-purpose technology revolutionizing the food economy—from precision agriculture and supply chain optimization to personalized nutrition and sustainable food systems. Drawing from cross-sector experience spanning industrial AI at Amazon and Gauss Labs, biotech innovation at Erudio Bio, and engagements with leading research institutions, the first half decodes Silicon Valley’s AI landscape, revealing how today’s foodtech revolution builds upon decades of algorithmic innovation and ecosystem cultivation. Through accessible technical exposition, participants will understand core AI architectures and why Silicon Valley became the epicenter of this technological revolution, providing essential frameworks for evaluating emerging AI capabilities against specific business needs in the food industry.

The second half examines AI’s multifaceted applications across the food value chain, from precision agriculture and food processing optimization to supply chain intelligence and consumer-facing innovations. Beyond technology, we’ll address critical business dimensions: how startups can disrupt traditional food systems, how established companies should approach AI transformation, and what entrepreneurial opportunities emerge at this intersection. Through case studies from successful foodtech ventures—spanning vertical farming operations and food delivery platforms to ingredient discovery startups—participants will gain actionable frameworks for evaluating AI opportunities, understanding investment priorities, and positioning their organizations for success in an AI-driven food economy. This session prepares Jeju Province’s food industry leaders not merely to adopt AI technologies, but to become architects of the next generation of food innovation that generates both economic value and societal impact.