Harhim Park co-founded AILIKE.ME with his high school friends, driven by the vision of "Never be alone." The problem they aim to solve is the increasing isolation among people despite technological advances. Their goal of connecting people will be achieved by creating "AI like me."

AILIKE.ME predicts that in the near future, the amount of communication between AI and people will surpass human-to-human communication. The tipping point will come when an AI that feels like human appears. Unlike conventional AI, the key is its connectivity with people, enabling users to form an inner bond with the AI. To address this, AILIKE.ME is implementing algorithms that closely simulate human cognitive processes.

This is a highly challenging endeavor, requiring insight into AI’s mechanisms and applying them to the realm of irrational emotions. Inevitably, it will involve countless trials and errors. However, if anyone can achieve it, it would be the rare talent at AILIKE.ME, who delve into the core of such complex matters.

The Contrarian

Harhim Park possesses a strong ability to think independently. He has developed his principles through rigorous reflection, enabling him to make different choices from others. Guided by the principle that "choices agreed upon by the majority are often not correct," he questions almost everything and considers the opposite perspective. His boldness stems from a self-efficacy built since his youth.

His first experience of achievement was with learning Chinese characters. During elementary school, he worked hard to study them and learned self-efficacy through the experience of seeing his efforts bear fruit. Becoming familiar with the meaning-based structure of Chinese characters led him to focus on understanding underlying meanings in everything he read, deepening his thinking.

He showed talent in math and science, attending a special science program for gifted students from fourth grade. Particularly fond of physics, he chose the physics department at Seoul National University's gifted program during middle school. Inspired by paradigm-shifting figures like Newton and Einstein, he dreamed of becoming a theoretical physicist making a significant impact. The Nobel Prize in Physics became a symbol of his aspirations.

Possessing both logical and mathematical strengths, he developed a keen interest in astronomy. He was selected as a national representative for the Astronomy Olympiad in middle school, winning a gold medal in the Junior Division at the International Astronomy Olympiad in Italy, contributing to Korea's overall top ranking. In high school, he was again selected as a representative, winning a silver medal at the International Astronomy Olympiad. Competing against international peers and representing the nation was an unforgettable experience that solidified his love for physics and astronomy. After graduating from Seoul Science High School, he confidently chose the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Seoul National University, where he graduated with summa cum laude.

The Power to Seek Answers Amid Uncertainty

The biggest difference between astronomy and other sciences is the pursuit of approximations amid uncertainty. Unlike physics, which can involve significant precision, astronomical values often range within one or two digits of accuracy. How old is the universe? The Hubble constant, indicating the rate of cosmic expansion, only achieved a two-digit level of accuracy in the 21st century, and even that value varies depending on the measurement method. Next quiz: how can we find planets for human colonization?

Harhim Park sees similarities between astronomy and entrepreneurship. Each stage involves uncertainty, requiring consideration of as many variables as possible to make decisions. Characteristics are identified using direct and indirect methods, hypotheses are set, tested, and feedback is integrated. This cycle is repeated, constantly weighing between accounting for more attributes or increasing accuracy.

His thinking framework was trained around physics and astronomy, viewing the world with a numerical and logical perspective. His perspective often differed from most people. "People say there are areas, like emotions or the subconscious, that cannot be rationally judged. I believe that with analytical skills, many aspects of the world can be reasonably and quantitatively explained."

AI Beginnings in Psychology

He found it fascinating that people make irrational decisions, even on important matters. The research on the Framing Effect by psychologists and behavioral economists Kahneman and Tversky analyzed cognitive biases as results of how our brains process specific types of information. While physics explores the logic of things, psychology explores the logic of the mind, each dealing with visible and invisible subjects.

He pursued a master’s degree in psychology at Seoul National University, researching cognitive modeling. Cognitive modeling quantitatively models the cognitive process during decision-making. Feedback from model outputs was used to refine the algorithm, continuously improving accuracy.

This research in cognitive science played a significant role in shaping the future direction of the company he would later create. Harhim defines human nature as "imperfection and the willingness to grow on your own." Perhaps for this reason, he saw AI’s imperfection—often viewed as a weakness by others—as potential. The specific patterns AI reproduces closely resemble human biases from a cognitive science perspective. This insight led AILIKE.ME to immerse itself in developing AI capable of human-level conversations.

Exceptional Drive for Improvement

The drive to improve is a natural human trait, but Harhim’s determination stands out. Since founding the company, he spends most of his time in the office, focused on work almost every moment outside of eating and sleeping. He has grown into someone who can confidently say he gives his best every day. His two other co-founders at AILIKE.ME were also endowed with natural talents but have excelled due to their exceptional drive and motivation to surpass even those innate qualities.

After completing his master’s degree in psychology, Harhim’s attention turned to cryptocurrency trading, a field that allowed him to quench his thirst for exploring fundamentals. It was essentially a contest in price-change modeling. The cycle of deriving models, testing validity, and refining models aligned closely with cognitive modeling. The clear and transparent evaluation system, based on profit, left no room for justification. The shorter feedback cycles made it easier to improve algorithms. Harhim saw a high potential for success and developed an automated cryptocurrency trading system himself. After operating it for over two years, he achieved substantial returns.

A Greater Purpose: AILIKE.ME

Later, Harhim co-founded AILIKE.ME with two high school classmates, who were also international Olympiad awardees representing Korea. They nurtured the idea of creating a company with a vision beyond profit, asking, “What if we could do something that provides greater value to the world at this unique moment?” The idea of creating meaningful value beyond making money resonated with Harhim, who had long dreamed of impacting the world. The trio believed that together, they could tackle any difficult problem.

The founding members deeply understood each other. They respected each other's capabilities, shared values shaped by similar backgrounds, and trusted each other’s judgment.

AILIKE.ME envisions a community where AI, each with a distinct presence, naturally blends with people. Their short-term goal is to create an AI that resembles human cognitive processes. They aim to help those who feel barriers in communication to find courage again. It’s exciting to imagine how their efforts, always pushing into uncharted territory, will manifest in potential.