South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT has named three tech firms in the month of August to build and run a free, unlimited generative AI service for every citizen. This will begin with beta testing this month. The initiative, called "AI for All," would make South Korea the first G20 nation to treat generative AI access as a public utility and right. The scheme will be offering the service to all 52 million South Korean citizens with no token caps or usage tiers.
How Is This Even Made Possible?
The three consortia selected include groups led by the country's two largest telecom operators, SK Telecom and KT, along with the operator of Kakao, a South Korean messaging app. Each will build its own dedicated app and integrate the AI into products people already use. The unified AI service will run through KakaoTalk, phone calls, SMS, and web portals, with SK Telecom's consortium reportedly designing phone and text access specifically for older users.
The tools will also be wired into government systems. Some of the potential uses include booking doctor's appointments, getting help finding an apartment, or tax consulting. Small businesses will be able to check their eligibility for state support schemes, and parents will receive suggested educational material for their children.
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[September 8, 2026](https://x.com/vivekst1/status/2097288029908197441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
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Nvidia To Fuel The 'AI For All' Scheme
The government is backing the project by supplying up to 512 Nvidia B200 chips split among the three consortia, while also contributing toward operating costs. President Lee Jae Myung's administration is setting aside about 10 trillion won, or $7.2 billion, for AI-related spending in 2026, three times the amount allocated the previous year.
Is this all really neccessary?
Cover: illustrative / Pexels [South Korea & AI]