From Sebastian Thrun to David Cameron, Access Global Insights From the World Knowledge Forum Without Language Barriers

From former British Prime Minister David Cameron and The Selfish Gene author Richard Dawkins to Sebastian Thrun, pioneer of autonomous vehicles.

The 27th World Knowledge Forum (WKF)—where global political and business leaders, scholars, and AI/tech experts gathered—was held from September 8 to 10, 2026, at Jangchung Arena and The Shilla Seoul.

Under this year’s theme, "The Prometheus Moment: Designing a Co-Intelligence World," sessions covered a wide range of topics, from AI-human coexistence to the economy, international order, science, and future industries.

With speakers of diverse nationalities, presentations were delivered in multiple languages. To overcome this, the event utilized EventCAT’s real-time AI interpretation and live subtitles, enabling attendees to choose sessions based on their interests rather than language constraints.

Additionally, key takeaways and core insights were summarized based on session transcripts generated by EventCAT.

Insights from World-Renowned Speakers 

Sebastian Thrun — The Physical AI Revolution: Co-Intelligence on the Move

On the morning of the opening day, September 8, Sebastian Thrun, co-founder of Google X and adjunct professor at Stanford University, took the stage at Jangchung Arena for the session “The Physical AI Revolution: Co-Intelligence on the Move.” 

Drawing from his experience creating Stanley, the autonomous vehicle that completed the 212 km desert course at the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge, he shared insights on how the world changes when AI expands beyond software and into machines that operate in the physical world, such as cars and robots. 

Key Insight | AI’s next frontier is not on screens, but in the physical world, leaving us with the key challenge of designing how we will work alongside machines. 

David Cameron — Leadership in Times of Change 

Former British Prime Minister David Cameron took the stage as an invited speaker during the opening ceremony.

Cameron emphasized how to balance economic and security priorities in an era where domestic politics and international security are complexly interconnected. He stressed that, especially when faced with difficult choices, it is vital to transparently communicate the underlying rationale and plans to the public on an ongoing basis.

Key Insight | As uncertainty grows, leadership becomes defined by setting clear priorities, communicating the reasoning behind decisions, and driving execution. 

Richard Dawkins — AI from an Evolutionary Perspective 

Richard Dawkins, author of The Selfish Gene, joined Professor Young-Kee Kim of the University of Chicago to examine AI through the lens of evolutionary theory.

They expanded the concept of "replicators", originally rooted in genes and memes, to the digital realm where AI generates and spreads information. The discussion covered a wide range of topics, from AlphaFold’s scientific breakthroughs to the criteria used to evaluate intelligence and consciousness in generative AI.

Key Insight | AI marks a pivotal turning point in how information is created and spread, raising new questions about the coexistence of humans and AI. 

Driven by Content, Unbound by Language 

At the World Knowledge Forum, powered by EventCAT, attendees could access real-time interpretation in their preferred language by simply scanning an on-site QR code—no app installation required. 

Real-time text translation was offered in 8 languages, while AI voice interpretation was provided in 4 languages: Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese. Attendees could follow along via live captions or listen to voice interpretation through their own earphones, allowing them to remain fully engaged with the speakers and the stage.

By enabling participants to choose their preferred language and translation format, EventCAT created an environment where attendees could seamlessly access the speakers and sessions that mattered to them most, regardless of the language spoken on stage.

From Small Breakout Sessions to Jangchung Arena 

The World Knowledge Forum featured a wide variety of session formats running simultaneously across multiple venues, ranging from a large-scale opening ceremony to multilateral discussions and fireside chats.

EventCAT configured live captioning and real-time interpretation environments tailored to each room and session format, from intimate breakout rooms at The Shilla Seoul to the main stage at Jangchung Arena. 

Given the specialized nature of the topics—such as AI, international relations, finance, robotics, and life sciences—key session information and technical jargon were trained in advance to enhance interpretation accuracy. On site, dedicated engineers monitored the real-time quality of captions and voice interpretation across all stages.

This ensured that participants had seamless access to required translations anywhere in the venue, while enabling event organizers to flexibly deploy multilingual services across diverse locations and session formats.

Ensuring Global Insights Beyond Language 

From AI expanding into the physical world to global leadership and AI viewed through the lens of evolution, the World Knowledge Forum brought together leaders from diverse countries and fields to discuss future shifts, challenges, and share groundbreaking perspectives.

To ensure that such global knowledge exchanges were not limited by language barriers, EventCAT provided a multilingual environment where attendees could select sessions based on their interests, regardless of the spoken language, and absorb content in the format most comfortable for them. This enabled a broader audience to seamlessly access the diverse insights offered at the World Knowledge Forum.

If you need real-time AI interpretation and live subtitles for your event featuring global speakers, contact us via the link below.

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