South Korea is preparing to give its entire population free access to generative artificial intelligence under an ambitious government programme called \u201cAI for All.\u201d<\/strong> The initiative aims to make AI a widely available digital service rather than something that people have to pay for through individual subscriptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A public beta is scheduled to begin in September 2026<\/strong>, followed by a broader nationwide rollout later this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The programme could give around 52 million South Korean residents<\/strong> access to AI services without conventional usage or token limits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AI Will Do More Than Answer Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The initiative is not simply about giving citizens another chatbot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The government wants the AI systems to connect with public services and help people complete everyday tasks. Residents could use AI to book medical appointments, search for housing and receive tax guidance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Small businesses could use the services to calculate taxes and determine whether they qualify for government support programmes, while parents could receive recommendations for educational content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This approach effectively treats AI as part of the country’s digital public infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Three Major Companies Will Run the Services<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n South Korea has selected three technology consortia led by SK Telecom, KT and Kakao<\/strong> to provide the nationwide AI services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each group is expected to develop its own AI application while integrating generative AI capabilities into existing products and services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The government will also provide computing resources to support the programme, including up to 512 Nvidia B200 GPUs<\/strong>, while helping cover some operating costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n South Korea Wants Its Own AI Ecosystem<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There is also a strategic reason behind the programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n South Korea wants to reduce its dependence on AI systems developed primarily in the United States and China while strengthening its domestic AI industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The government is encouraging the use of locally developed models and plans to make premium-level AI capabilities available to ordinary citizens without requiring them to purchase expensive subscriptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The country has already developed a strong appetite for generative AI. Government research indicates that roughly one-quarter of South Koreans already pay for AI services<\/strong>, while more than 20 million people use free AI tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Billions Are Being Invested in AI<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/trak.in\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot-2026-09-04-at-9.48.14-AM-1024x570.png\")
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