OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently traveled to South Korea to meet with President Yoon Suk Yeol to discuss the country’s AI development. Altman had previously visited Europe and several Middle Eastern countries last month to discuss the prospects and threats of AI with lawmakers and national leaders. South Korea has new AI regulations that are awaiting parliament approval and are seen as less restrictive than similar regulations set to become law in the European Union. The country has developed its own foundation models for AI, thanks to local tech firms such as Naver, Kakao, and LG, as they seek to tap into niche and specialized markets. In addition to discussing AI regulations, Altman also met with about 100 South Korean start-ups to talk about how to make sure that the technology benefits the world, rather than stifling innovation.
South Korea‘s new AI regulations are less restrictive than the EU‘s as they guarantee freedom to release AI products and services. Regulations will only restrict AI products if they are deemed to harm people’s lives, safety, and rights. South Korea‘s Ministry of Science and ICT plans to foster local AI development by providing training data sets for sophisticated “hyperscale” AI and continuing discussions on AI ethics and regulations. To be successful in the global AI ecosystem, Korean companies will need to secure specialized technology for vertical AI, which is designed and optimized for specific uses. Naver intends to develop localized AI applications for countries with political sensitivities in the Middle East as well as for non-English-speaking countries and regions, such as Japan and Southeast Asia.
