So South Korea’s about to give everyone free access to generative AI. Think booking a doctor’s visit, hunting for an apartment, sorting out your taxes, all powered by AI. They’re calling it “AI for All,” and basically the government wants to be the one steering how this stuff gets used day to day.
Beta testing is set to begin in September, followed by a wider rollout later this year. On Friday, the Seoul government selected three technology consortia to deliver the services, led by the country’s two largest telecom companies and the operator behind Kakao, one of South Korea’s most popular consumer platforms.
The services won’t just operate as standalone chatbots; they’re expected to plug directly into government systems. Residents will be able to schedule doctor’s appointments, search for apartments, and get tax guidance through the platforms. Small business owners will gain tools to calculate taxes and check eligibility for government support, while parents will receive recommendations for educational content.
Each group is planning to roll out its own AI app, plus add generative AI features to the stuff they already offer. Users get unlimited access, all covered by the government.
Seoul will contribute part of the computing power needed to support the infrastructure, planning to distribute up to 512 Nvidia B200 chips among the three consortia and help cover operating costs. The Ministry of Science and ICT has not disclosed the program’s total cost.
South Korea is already a major generative AI market. A government survey found about 25 percent of South Koreans pay for AI services, versus 2 percent of Americans, per PNC Bank. Seoul estimates over 20 million people use free AI tools nationwide.
The rollout is backed by a significant increase in government AI expenditure. The administration of President Lee Jae Myung has allocated approximately 10 trillion won ($7.2 billion) for AI-related spending in 2026, three times the amount budgeted in the previous year.
For South Korea, the project will serve as a test of whether generative AI can be integrated into the country’s foundational digital infrastructure. Its success will depend on the reliability of the systems for practical, routine use by the public. The government has not established a formal adoption target for the new service.
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