LG trains 94 AI developers on model optimization, plans job placements
LG held a two-day hackathon in Icheon, South Korea, where 94 young developers competed to build lightweight versions of EXAONE, the company's large language model. Participants reduced the model's size while maintaining performance-a technical challenge with direct applications in smartphones and laptops.
The competition drew from 2,339 applicants to LG Aimers, the company's talent development program launched in 2022. Participants worked in teams to create 27 different lightweight models, which LG plans to release on Hugging Face, an open-source AI platform used by developers worldwide.
What this means for HR teams
LG used the hackathon as a recruitment pipeline. On the second day, eight LG subsidiaries-including LG AI Research, LG Electronics, and LG Energy Solution-hosted a job fair where HR managers discussed hiring directly with participants.
The winning team received 10 million won in prize money and an exemption from document screening when applying to LG positions. This structure converts a technical competition into a talent acquisition event.
LG Aimers accepts applicants aged 19 to 29 with basic AI knowledge and coding skills. The program runs twice yearly during summer and winter breaks and covers all costs, from graduate-level lectures to job application support.
Since launching in late 2022, LG Aimers has trained over 20,000 participants. The company aims to develop 50,000 AI professionals by 2030 to support South Korea's AI sector growth.
For HR professionals managing technical talent acquisition, programs like this demonstrate how companies are addressing the shortage of AI-skilled workers. LG's approach combines education, hands-on experience, and direct hiring-reducing the time between training and employment.
Learn more about AI for Human Resources or explore the AI Learning Path for CHROs to understand how AI skills training fits into workforce strategy.
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