South Korea's "AI for All" initiative will grant citizens unlimited free access to AI services by year-end, reducing reliance on foreign platforms.
The South Korean government is set to introduce the "AI for All" initiative, which will provide citizens with unlimited free access to artificial intelligence services by the end of the year. This program, managed by consortia led by SK Telecom, Kakao, and KT, aims to enhance public access to AI technology without limitations on the number of inquiries.
Agreements with the selected companies are expected to be finalized in September, leading to the start of beta testing. The Ministry of Science and ICT will supply 512 Nvidia B200 accelerators to support the initiative, with funding to be allocated from the state budget beginning in 2027. The total cost of the program remains undisclosed.
Enhancing Government Service Accessibility
The initiative will feature universal chatbots and AI agents designed to help users navigate government services, including identifying available benefits and assisting with application processes. SK Telecom plans to offer access through various channels, including an app, web browsers, phone calls, and SMS, with a focus on healthcare and financial services.
Kakao will integrate these AI solutions into its messaging platform, targeting taxation and elderly care, while KT will connect AI capabilities with Daum and partner services, concentrating on education and real estate sectors. The ultimate goal is to evolve from basic chatbots to personalized AI agents for each citizen by 2027.
Emphasis on Local AI Development
A significant aim of the program is to minimize dependence on foreign AI platforms. The initiative mandates that at least 50% of the operations for each service utilize proprietary South Korean models, with an additional 30% sourced from local neural networks. Foreign models will only be employed when absolutely necessary, and no government subsidies will support their use, ensuring that at least 80% of the services are powered by domestic solutions.
Current statistics indicate that around two-thirds of South Koreans have engaged with AI technologies, with approximately 23 million users of generative AI services. Notably, the user base for ChatGPT in South Korea reached about 23.45 million in April, with Gemini and Claude attracting 8.45 million and 2.41 million users, respectively. The government has expressed concerns over the limited free tiers of foreign platforms, which may lead to access restrictions in the future due to potential price hikes or service changes.
Additionally, in late July, Nvidia, Naver, and Brookfield announced plans to expand the capacity of the AI Factory at the GAK Sejong data center from 55 MW to 200 MW by 2028.
