South Korea to Provide Free AI Access to All 52 Million Citizens
South Korea is taking a significant step towards digital equity by offering free AI access to its entire population. This initiative makes it the first G20 nation to provide such a service.
"AI for Everyone" Program Details:
- The program aims to develop an AI chatbot and public-service agent, ensuring at least 50% of domestic AI models are used.
- Bidding for this project commenced on July 13th, with applications open until August 11th.
- A beta launch is scheduled for September, followed by a full rollout by the end of the year.
Addressing an Important Gap:
Currently, two-thirds of Koreans have used AI, and nearly half (44.5%) regularly engage with generative AI. However, most rely on foreign services, with ChatGPT leading the market with 23.45 million Korean users as of April 2026.
Domestic Focus:
The program emphasizes domestic AI development by requiring at least 50% domestic model usage. This initiative is partly driven by the deputy prime minister’s May statement on ensuring AI benefits reach the wider public, and it also serves to reduce reliance on American and Chinese providers.
Funding and Timeline:
South Korea plans to fund this endeavor with profits from chip taxes generated by Samsung and SK Hynix, directly linking semiconductor profits to citizen-facing AI services. The program is set to run until 2030.
As reported by Alina Maria Stan, co-founder and COO of Tekpon.