Government is preparing to give free AI access for entire population of 51 million people
It looks like South Korea could be set to make generative artificial intelligence available to everyone in the country as part of an ambitious attempt to bring AI into everyday life.
The South Korean government revealed that it is preparing to launch its ‘AI for All’ initiative, which will give people access to locally developed AI services without requiring them to pay for a subscription.
The AI systems are expected to be connected to government services, allowing people to use them for practical tasks such as arranging medical appointments, getting help with taxes and searching for housing.
The programme is set to enter beta testing in September, with a wider rollout planned later this year.
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Three technology organizations have been selected to develop and operate the services, including groups led by the nation’s two biggest telecommunications companies.
Rather than creating one government AI assistant, the participating groups will develop their own applications and incorporate generative AI into existing products.
The move comes as South Korea attempts to establish itself as a major AI power while reducing its reliance on technology originating in the US and China.
Giving people free access is one way of encouraging them to try South Korean-developed AI products, particularly when many of the most advanced AI services elsewhere operate on subscription models.
The news has prompted many people to take to social media to share their own reactions, with one user writing on Reddit: “Reminds me of when Korea / Japan etc had broad access to high internet speeds and smart(er) phones before the US did.”
Another said: “Fastest way to train AI is to let everyone use it. Also a great way to get everyone hooked.”
A third person commented: “South Korean AI investors have had cold feet for a little while. This should reassure them that the crash is not here yet and that the government will bail them out when it does arrive. This is just market manipulation. This is a strong message that the government, and its budget, tied itself to the AI investing spree whatever the consequences may be. This is not good for the general public. They will end up paying for yet another bailout.”
And a fourth added: “That's genuinely cool. If this works out it could be a real test of whether broad AI access actually changes how people build stuff. I'm curious about the compute cost though, that's a lot of users.”