South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT has opened bidding to develop a government-backed, free, unlimited AI chatbot available to all 52 million residents. This groundbreaking public service aims to balance increased AI access with a strong commitment to domestic technology.
- Free AI chatbot for all 52 million South Koreans planned
- Domestic AI models must comprise at least 50% of the system
- Beta launch scheduled for September with full rollout by year-end
What happened
On July 13, South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT initiated a bidding process to develop an unlimited, free AI chatbot service accessible to every resident in the country. This initiative, named 'AI for Everyone,' aims to deploy two to three companies selected to run the service, supported by government-provided GPU infrastructure geared to meet heavy AI usage demands.
The program targets widespread AI access by providing computational resources like Nvidia B200 GPUs and requires selected entities to complement this support with their own funding. The service's beta is expected to launch in September 2026, with full deployment planned by the end of the year.
Why it matters
South Korea is pioneering AI public service among G20 nations by intending to offer free, unlimited AI chatbot access to all citizens. Despite high existing AI user numbers—nearly 45% of Koreans use generative AI regularly—the vast majority depend on foreign platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. This initiative seeks to shift that reliance towards domestic AI technologies, mandating that at least 50% of the AI infrastructure must utilize Korean-developed models.
This policy aligns with broader national interests to strengthen local AI ecosystems and reduce foreign dependency amidst global tech competition. By connecting this AI access program to semiconductor industry profits through chip taxes, South Korea links its technological industrial leadership to accessible citizen services.
What to watch next
Stakeholders will be closely tracking which companies are selected in the bidding process by August 11 and how those firms implement the domestic AI model requirements. The balance between government support and private investment will be key to the program's sustainability and scalability through its projected run until 2030.
The September beta launch will provide early insights into user adoption, system performance, and public reception. Observers should also monitor how this model influences AI policy and adoption approaches in other G20 countries and the broader global AI market, especially regarding sovereign AI development and public access.