Research tasks that once took days can now be completed in about five minutes
Industry sees AI-ready data as a new competitive advantage for global cosmetics development
Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming an integral part of cosmetics research and development (R&D) as companies seek to unlock decades of accumulated research assets to accelerate product innovation. As consumer preferences evolve rapidly and regulatory requirements differ across global markets, the ability to quickly search, analyze, and apply vast amounts of research data is emerging as a key competitive advantage.
According to industry sources on July 28, Amorepacific has launched "LEMON (Lab Efficiency Mode ON)," a generative AI platform designed specifically for research and development, built on more than 70 years of the company's accumulated R&D data.
Since establishing Korea's first cosmetics research laboratory in 1954, Amorepacific has amassed extensive research assets, including ingredient information, formulation data, research reports, patents, and academic papers. However, much of this information was dispersed across multiple systems, making it time-consuming for researchers to locate and analyze relevant data. The fragmented structure also limited the direct application of AI technologies.
To address these challenges, Amorepacific launched the "Data Highway" project with KT last year through its internal AI Transformation (AX) organization. Together, the companies integrated and standardized millions of structured and unstructured research records, converting them into "AI Ready Data" that AI systems can readily understand and utilize. They also established an "AI Data Hub" that enables researchers to access and connect research information from a single platform.
At the center of the initiative is LEMON, an AI assistant that allows researchers to ask questions in natural language and receive integrated answers drawn from ingredient databases, formulations, research reports, and other scientific resources. Beyond simple keyword searches, the platform supports information discovery, research exploration, and idea generation throughout the product development process.
The platform has already demonstrated significant improvements in research efficiency. According to beta testing conducted with researchers at Amorepacific's R&I Center, the time required to review research materials and regulatory requirements during product planning has been reduced from approximately 12 days to just five minutes. Similarly, verifying the research history of a specific ingredient and assessing its potential product applications has been shortened from about six days to five minutes.
Industry observers believe the initiative reflects a broader shift in how cosmetics companies are adopting AI. Rather than focusing solely on automating routine tasks, companies are increasingly transforming accumulated research data into strategic AI assets. Because cosmetics R&D involves interconnected information on ingredients, formulations, efficacy, safety, and regulatory compliance, AI's ability to quickly retrieve historical research and identify meaningful relationships could significantly shorten new product development cycles.
The technology is expected to be particularly valuable for companies targeting global markets, where researchers must simultaneously evaluate country-specific regulations and ingredient standards. By rapidly connecting research materials with regulatory information, AI can reduce review time during the early stages of product planning and accelerate the development of market-specific products.
Industry experts also emphasize that AI should complement rather than replace researchers. While AI can efficiently search and analyze enormous volumes of information, establishing scientific hypotheses, designing experiments, and making strategic product decisions still require human expertise and creativity. The primary value of AI lies in eliminating repetitive information retrieval and analysis, allowing researchers to focus on higher-value innovation.
Amorepacific plans to expand the use of its AI platform across the entire R&D process while continuing its broader digital transformation through the adoption of additional AI agents. The company aims to create an environment where researchers spend less time searching for information and more time developing new hypotheses and advancing technological innovation.
"Leading the transition to an AI-powered research environment is highly meaningful," said Seo Byung-hwi, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Head of Amorepacific's R&I Center. "Going forward, AI platforms will handle repetitive search and analysis tasks, allowing researchers to focus on creative questions and technological innovation."
Industry analysts believe Amorepacific's initiative could serve as a model for AI transformation across the broader manufacturing sector. Once decades of accumulated corporate data are reorganized into AI-ready formats, companies can extend AI applications beyond R&D to production, quality management, and regulatory compliance. As AI adoption matures, competition among enterprises is expected to shift from the capabilities of AI models alone toward the quality of proprietary data and the ability to integrate that data into real-world business operations.
