South Korea plans free nationwide AI chatbot for all citizens

South Korea plans to provide every citizen with free, unlimited access to a national AI chatbot, positioning generative AI as public infrastructure rather than a paid service. The Ministry of Science and ICT launched the AI for Everyone initiative, which will rely on domestic AI models and include a separate agent dedicated to helping people navigate government services. Two or three private companies will build the platform, supported by up to 512 Nvidia B200 GPUs, with a beta expected in September and full rollout by the end of 2026. The government requires that at least half of each service run on South Korean foundation models to reduce reliance on foreign providers. Funding is guaranteed through 2030, though long-term sustainability will depend on annual evaluations.

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