Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol / YonhapInside a water treatment plant south of Seoul, Korea is making its pitch to become the world’s next hub for artificial intelligence (AI) cooperation.Officials from many international organizations visited the Korea Water Resources Corp.’s AI-powered treatment facility in Hwaseong on Thursday, where Korean officials demonstrated how AI is already managing critical public infrastructure. The visit followed Wednesday’s “Global AI Hub Vision Declaration” ceremony, where the government unveiled plans to position Korea at the center of international AI cooperation aimed at addressing climate change, public health and development challenges. More than 20 senior officials attended the site visit, including vice president-level executives from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), along with representatives from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Central American Bank for Economic Integration and United Nations agencies. At the facility, the Korea Water Resources Corp. demonstrated AI systems that analyze big data to optimize chemical treatment processes, reduce energy consumption and detect abnormalities in water quality before problems emerge.Officials said the technology could offer practical solutions for developing countries struggling with unstable water infrastructure and resource shortages.Participants from the World Bank and ADB said the AI-powered system could improve both safety and operational efficiency in countries facing water management challenges.The Ministry of Finance and Economy said Korea plans to deepen global AI cooperation by attracting AI-specialized centers from major multilateral development banks to Korea.The government said memorandums of understanding have already been signed with the IDB and ADB, while a letter of intent has been reached with the EBRD.World Bank Vice President for the East Asia and Pacific Region Carlos Felipe Jaramillo stressed that developing countries must not be left behind in the global AI transition.ADB Vice President Fatima Yasmin, meanwhile, said the bank will work with Korea to advance inclusive AI development through a planned AI innovation center in the country.This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.