South Korea opened bidding for a free, unlimited AI chatbot for all citizens (thenextweb.com)

South Korea has initiated a significant initiative by opening bidding for a free, unlimited AI chatbot available to all 52 million citizens, under the program named “AI for Everyone.” This move positions South Korea as the first G20 nation to implement AI as a public service. The government plans to select two or three companies to develop the chatbot, which must incorporate at least 50% domestic AI models, reflecting a commitment to bolster local technology while reducing reliance on foreign AI services like ChatGPT, which currently dominates the Korean market. The significance of this program lies in its potential to democratize access to AI technology while supporting domestic developers. With a beta launch scheduled for September and a full rollout by year-end, the initiative not only addresses the growing reliance on external AI solutions—44.5% of Koreans use generative AI regularly—but also seeks to ensure that the economic benefits of AI are more broadly distributed among the public. Funded partly by the chip tax revenues from major companies like Samsung, this initiative presents a strategic connection between South Korea's AI ambitions and its robust semiconductor industry, a unique approach that other G20 nations have yet to adopt.