Meta description: September 25, 2025 AI news: President Lee chairs historic UN Security Council AI debate, Microsoft showcases Korean firms’ agentic AI adoption, DIGITIMES forecasts decentralized chip era

Top 5 Global AI Stories: September 25, 2025 – South Korean President Makes History Chairing UN Security Council’s First AI Debate as Industry Embraces Agentic Transformation

Thursday, September 25, 2025, marks a historic watershed for global artificial intelligence governance as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung becomes the first Korean leader to chair a United Nations Security Council open debate, presiding over the landmark “Artificial Intelligence and International Peace and Security” session that brings together 193 member states to address AI’s implications for global stability. This unprecedented diplomatic milestone coincides with Microsoft’s comprehensive showcase of how leading Korean frontier firms—including KB Life, LG Electronics, SK Innovation, Amorepacific, and Hanwha—are deploying agentic AI systems across their operations, with 77% of Korean leaders expecting digital labor to expand employee capabilities within 12-18 months. The day simultaneously witnesses DIGITIMES’ authoritative forecast that the global AI chip market will undergo a fundamental “decentralization” beginning in 2026, driven by custom ASIC expansion achieving 21% growth versus GPUs’ 7%, advanced packaging diversification beyond TSMC’s dominance, and HBM4 memory costs surging 53% higher than HBM3E while capturing over 50% of accelerator material costs. These developments occur alongside growing cybersecurity concerns as artificial intelligence supercharges social engineering attacks against financial services firms, with AI-generated phishing achieving significantly higher click-through rates than human-created campaigns. These convergent developments collectively demonstrate artificial intelligence’s evolution across international diplomacy, enterprise transformation, semiconductor supply chains, financial security, and technological governance that will define global AI leadership and regulation throughout the remainder of 2025.

1. South Korean President Makes History Chairing UN Security Council’s First AI Debate

President Lee Jae Myung urges “responsible use” of artificial intelligence while warning of potential “Silicon Curtain” exceeding Cold War divisions

President Lee Jae Myung made history on September 25, 2025, as the first South Korean leader to chair a United Nations Security Council open debate, presiding over the landmark session titled “Artificial Intelligence and International Peace and Security” that addresses AI’s implications for global stability among all 193 UN member states. Speaking at the UN headquarters in New York, Lee emphasized that “to turn the changes of the AI era—where light and shadow coexist—into opportunities, it is essential for the international community to unite and uphold the principle of ‘responsible use of AI,'” while warning that improper preparation could trigger an extreme technological divide through a “Silicon Curtain” surpassing the Cold War era’s “Iron Curtain”. The historic debate featured briefings from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, renowned AI expert Professor Yoshua Bengio from Université de Montréal, and Stanford University’s Professor Yejin Choi, demonstrating unprecedented high-level international focus on artificial intelligence governance.aa+4

Lee struck the gavel to officially open the 10,005th meeting of the Security Council while seated next to UN Secretary-General Guterres, emphasizing that “eighty years ago, the UN’s central concern at its founding was how the international community would manage the emerging threat of nuclear weapons—now it is time to explore new governance structures to address the new challenges and threats posed by AI”. The president highlighted AI’s dual nature, noting that if used properly, artificial intelligence could help overcome challenges like low growth, climate change, and inequality, while serving as “a powerful instrument for preventing conflict and maintaining peace, such as by monitoring the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction”. However, he warned that without established governance to curb reckless AI use, the technology could turn into a formidable tool leading humanity toward a dystopian future.koreajoongangdaily.joins+3

The strategic implications extend beyond symbolic diplomacy to practical governance frameworks, with Lee pledging that South Korea, as a “responsible global power,” will lead international cooperation to ensure AI becomes a tool for building sustainable human futures. The debate builds upon South Korea’s track record in AI governance, including jointly tabling the first-ever UN General Assembly resolution on AI in military domains with the Netherlands and adopting the “Seoul Declaration” at the AI Seoul Summit emphasizing safety, innovation, and inclusivity. As chair of the forthcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, Lee announced Seoul will adopt a global initiative ensuring AI innovation contributes to humanity’s prosperity while establishing new governance structures addressing AI-driven threats and opportunities.koreaherald+2

2. Microsoft Showcases Korean Frontier Firms’ Agentic AI Adoption Across Major Industries

Leading companies including KB Life, LG Electronics, and SK Innovation demonstrate measurable business impact through AI agent deployment

Microsoft announced on September 25, 2025, comprehensive success stories from leading Korean frontier firms integrating agentic AI across their operations, with prominent companies including KB Life, LG Electronics, SK Innovation, Amorepacific, Emart, POSCO International, Hanwha, and Hanwha Qcells realizing measurable business transformation through AI agent deployment. According to Microsoft’s Work Trend Index 2025, 77% of Korean leaders expect digital labor to expand employee capabilities within the next 12-18 months, while 82% of global leaders view 2025 as a pivotal year to reconsider major strategic and operational issues. The announcement demonstrates how frontier firms operate flexibly around hybrid teams where humans and AI agents collaborate, characterized by fast growth and enhanced productivity outcomes.news.microsoft+2

KB Life has deployed Microsoft 365 Copilot company-wide, streamlining core tasks including document processing, meeting notes, and scheduling while significantly improving speed and productivity through automated large-scale document summarization and repetitive process automation. LG Electronics’ HS division developed CHATDA, an enterprise-scale big data analysis AI platform powered by Microsoft Azure and Azure OpenAI, dramatically accelerating product quality improvements and customer insights from data collected across tens of millions of global devices while applying agentic AI concepts for service quality enhancement through question classification, code generation, and automated responses. SK Innovation adopted a generative AI platform based on Microsoft Azure, applying artificial intelligence to various refining and petrochemical sector tasks while building environments that automate repetitive tasks and support intelligent workflows through Power Automate, Azure OpenAI, and Teams integration.news.microsoft

Amorepacific developed the AI Beauty Counselor (AIBC) providing personalized beauty consultations based on Microsoft Azure OpenAI while designing utilization strategies ensuring stability, safety, and quality through agentic AI architecture where specialized agents collaborate and integrate field data with internal systems. Emart combined Microsoft 365 Copilot with Power Platform to automate repetitive tasks and improve efficiency across stores and headquarters, with employees developing various agents including HR FAQ chatbots and produce market price search tools while driving innovation in buyer tasks through ERP data integration. The strategic implications position Korean companies as global leaders in agentic AI adoption while demonstrating practical applications that enhance productivity, decision-making quality, and operational efficiency across diverse industries from financial services to manufacturing, retail, and energy.news.microsoft

3. DIGITIMES Forecasts Fundamental AI Chip Market “Decentralization” Beginning in 2026

Custom ASICs to grow 21% annually versus GPUs’ 7% as advanced packaging diversifies beyond TSMC and HBM4 costs surge 53% higher

DIGITIMES released its comprehensive Tech Forum 2025 analysis on September 25, 2025, forecasting that the global high-end cloud AI accelerator market will undergo fundamental “decentralization” beginning in 2026, driven by three transformative forces: expansion of custom application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), diversification of advanced packaging beyond TSMC’s dominance, and intensifying competition in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) pricing. The research projects that between 2025 and 2029, the compound annual growth rate for high-end cloud ASICs will reach 21%, far outpacing graphics processing units (GPUs) at 7%, as cloud service providers accelerate in-house ASIC development to gain tighter control over performance and costs. Google and Amazon, both leading adopters, are pursuing vertical integration and platform strategies that convert compute resources into cost advantages for customers, while Meta and Microsoft are scaling deployments after years of ASIC research.laotiantimes+3

The advanced packaging landscape will experience significant transformation, with non-TSMC suppliers projected to account for 31% of global CoWoS-class capacity by Q4 2026, up from 26% in late 2024, as ASE, Amkor, and SJSemi emerge with distinct competitive advantages in cost and scale, U.S.-based manufacturing, and China’s domestic demand respectively. Intel is simultaneously pushing its EMIB technology, embedding silicon bridges in substrates to reduce costs and strengthen its “made in America” positioning, resulting in a clear shift where high-end AI chips will no longer depend overwhelmingly on TSMC’s packaging lines. On the memory front, cloud accelerators will begin adopting HBM4 in 2026, with DIGITIMES estimating that average selling prices for HBM4 will be roughly 53% higher than HBM3E, pushing memory’s share of total bill-of-materials costs above 50% for top-tier accelerators.prnewswire+2

Samsung is betting on advanced process technology and aggressive price cuts to win Nvidia orders, directly challenging SK Hynix’s long-standing dominance, while Micron continues steady capacity expansion in the increasingly competitive memory market. DIGITIMES highlights three major opportunities in this shifting landscape: custom ASIC solutions giving cloud providers stronger cost control, regionalized advanced packaging capacity meeting U.S. manufacturing and China localization demands, and high cost-efficiency HBM offerings delivering affordable memory during steep price inflation periods. The strategic implications indicate the AI accelerator industry is moving away from centralized supply models toward more decentralized, competitive ecosystems where only companies forming strategic alliances and integrating technologies effectively will maintain leadership positions in the new era.laotiantimes+1

4. AI Supercharges Social Engineering Attacks Against Financial Services Firms

Generative AI tools enable significantly higher click-through rates in phishing campaigns while malware-free intrusions target identity systems

Financial services firms face escalating cybersecurity threats as artificial intelligence supercharges social engineering attacks, with generative AI tools creating more convincing versions of standard phishing methods that achieve significantly higher click-through rates compared to human-generated campaigns. Security expert Nick Fratucello explains that threat actors with “KPIs and return on investment” metrics have identified identity systems as easier targets than traditional endpoint attacks, noting that “social engineering is extremely prevalent, and that really leads into an identity-based type of attack” where AI-generated emails and texts demonstrate measurably higher effectiveness. The shift reflects stronger endpoint barriers driving cybercriminals toward malware-free intrusions that exploit “the interconnectedness of the human and the machine together” through sophisticated social manipulation techniques enhanced by artificial intelligence capabilities.ifa

Financial institutions represent particularly attractive targets due to their valuable information holdings including both data and intellectual property, while the rise of malware-free intrusions creates new attack vectors that bypass traditional security measures. Fratucello emphasizes that “identity today is the new perimeter,” requiring organizations to implement detection, response, and prevention capabilities specifically focused on identity domain security rather than relying solely on endpoint protection strategies. The evolving threat landscape demands modern defensive solutions that leverage AI capabilities, with security experts recommending that organizations “embrace AI, embrace the AI security capabilities that are available today” to retake advantages in speed, consistency, and reduction of human error compared to adversaries using similar technologies.ifa

The strategic implications extend beyond individual firm security to systemic risks across the financial services sector, with AI-enhanced social engineering potentially undermining confidence in digital financial systems while creating cascading effects across interconnected institutions. Organizations must implement comprehensive identity security frameworks including strong authentication, privileged access management, and continuous monitoring while ensuring cloud environment protection through multiple defensive layers. The recommendation for embracing AI-powered defensive capabilities reflects recognition that as threat actors leverage artificial intelligence for attacks, defensive systems must equally utilize AI advantages to maintain effective protection, potentially establishing new paradigms for cybersecurity where AI becomes essential infrastructure for both offensive and defensive operations.ifa

5. Shionogi Highlights Japan’s Role in AI-Driven Drug Discovery and Healthcare Innovation

Japanese pharmaceutical leader emphasizes AI’s potential to improve drug discovery efficiency by 40% while advancing global healthcare delivery

Shionogi & Co., Ltd. announced on September 25, 2025, Japan’s pivotal role in advancing global artificial intelligence applications across drug discovery and healthcare delivery, emphasizing AI’s transformative potential to improve pharmaceutical development efficiency by up to 40% while leveraging Japan’s unique strengths in precision medicine, aging society management, and technological innovation. The pharmaceutical giant’s announcement aligns with Japan’s broader strategy to position itself as a global leader in AI-driven healthcare solutions, building upon the country’s advanced healthcare infrastructure, extensive longitudinal health data, and sophisticated medical device manufacturing capabilities. Shionogi’s emphasis on AI integration reflects the Japanese pharmaceutical industry’s recognition that artificial intelligence has become essential for maintaining competitive advantage in increasingly complex and costly drug development processes.shionogi

The company’s focus on AI applications spans multiple critical areas including molecular target identification, compound optimization, clinical trial design, and personalized medicine approaches that could significantly accelerate time-to-market for new therapeutics while reducing development costs. Japan’s aging society provides unique advantages for AI healthcare research, with comprehensive health records and longitudinal patient data enabling sophisticated machine learning models that can identify disease patterns, predict treatment responses, and optimize care delivery across diverse population segments. The strategic positioning builds upon Japan’s established strengths in medical device manufacturing, robotics integration, and precision engineering that complement AI software capabilities with advanced hardware platforms essential for next-generation healthcare delivery.shionogi

The strategic implications position Japan as a critical player in global healthcare AI development while addressing domestic challenges including physician shortages, aging population care needs, and healthcare cost containment through technological innovation. Shionogi’s announcement reflects broader Japanese government initiatives supporting AI healthcare development through regulatory frameworks, research funding, and international collaboration programs designed to establish Japan as a trusted partner for global pharmaceutical companies seeking AI-driven innovation. The emphasis on combining Japan’s healthcare data assets with AI capabilities could establish new paradigms for international healthcare collaboration while demonstrating how developed nations can leverage demographic challenges as competitive advantages in emerging technology markets.shionogi

Strategic Analysis and Global Transformation

The convergence of these five major developments on September 25, 2025, illustrates artificial intelligence’s unprecedented evolution across international diplomacy, enterprise transformation, supply chain restructuring, cybersecurity challenges, and healthcare innovation. President Lee’s historic UN Security Council chairmanship represents a watershed moment for global AI governance, with South Korea positioning itself as a leader in establishing international frameworks for responsible AI development while warning of potential technological divisions exceeding Cold War-era geopolitical splits.

Microsoft’s showcase of Korean frontier firms demonstrates how agentic AI has moved beyond experimental applications to become essential business infrastructure, with leading companies across financial services, manufacturing, retail, and energy achieving measurable productivity gains through human-AI collaboration. The success stories illustrate AI’s transition from theoretical enhancement to practical necessity for maintaining competitive advantage in increasingly dynamic global markets.

DIGITIMES’ forecast of fundamental chip market decentralization reflects how AI demand is reshaping semiconductor supply chains away from centralized models toward diverse, competitive ecosystems. The projected dominance of custom ASICs over general-purpose GPUs, combined with advanced packaging diversification and expensive HBM4 memory adoption, indicates fundamental shifts in how AI infrastructure is designed, manufactured, and deployed globally.

The escalating cybersecurity threats enabled by AI-powered social engineering highlight artificial intelligence’s dual nature as both solution and challenge, with financial institutions requiring sophisticated AI-powered defensive capabilities to counter increasingly effective AI-enhanced attacks. The identity-focused threat landscape reflects broader recognition that AI adoption requires comprehensive security transformation rather than incremental improvements to existing frameworks.

Shionogi’s emphasis on AI-driven healthcare innovation demonstrates how Japan is leveraging demographic challenges as competitive advantages in emerging technology markets, potentially establishing new paradigms for international healthcare collaboration while addressing critical global health needs through technological innovation.

Organizations and nations that successfully navigate these convergent dimensions—diplomatic leadership, enterprise transformation, supply chain adaptation, security enhancement, and healthcare innovation—will likely achieve sustainable competitive advantages as artificial intelligence becomes fundamental infrastructure supporting international relations, business operations, technological development, and social welfare throughout the remainder of 2025 and beyond.

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