GS Group Bets Big on AI to Revitalize Its Business Strategy

Korea’s retail-to-energy conglomerate GS Group announced Thursday a company-wide push for an artificial intelligence-driven business transformation to overcome slowing performance in its key subsidiaries.

GS Group Chairman Heo Tae-soo emphasized the importance of leveraging the company’s collective knowledge and data. “All the knowledge and data accumulated across every area of our business are our strongest assets. … We must integrate these assets through AI and develop new business opportunities by enhancing collaboration between subsidiaries,” Heo stated.

“Amid these enormous changes, we must place technology at the core of our strategy rather than treating it as a mere tool, and rigorously explore ways to transform our businesses fundamentally.”

These remarks were delivered during GS Group’s mid-year strategy meeting held in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday. The gathering brought together some 150 executives, including CEOs from the group’s major subsidiaries, to assess plans for the second half of 2025.

During the session, Heo presented recent developments in AI technology. He emphasized the critical importance of streamlining production processes and adopting robotics through physical AI, viewing this as a key turning point for the group.

While highlighting internal efforts to build an AI-driven innovation engine, including the development of a proprietary AI platform, Heo also urged executives to take steps toward external business expansion.

“The group continues to consider mergers and acquisitions, but we need a more strategic and execution-focused approach,” Heo said.

He called on each subsidiary to contribute to laying the foundation for GS Group’s future growth. “Each subsidiary should contribute to laying the foundation for GS Group’s future growth by pursuing meaningful deals and enhancing strategic networks within the venture ecosystem,” Heo concluded.