South Korea Aims to Develop Homegrown ChatGPT
South Korea is set to embark on a mission to create its own version of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot originally developed by the US-based OpenAI. Acting President Choi Sang-mok recently announced the country's ambitious plans, with a commitment to provide extensive government support for research and development in this field.
During a recent high-level committee meeting focused on establishing South Korea as one of the top AI leaders globally, Choi emphasized the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors. He highlighted the significant investments made by leading AI nations in their AI infrastructure, signaling a new phase in the global AI race.
Risks and Opportunities
Choi acknowledged the emergence of DeepSeek, a sophisticated AI model created by a Chinese startup, as both a potential risk and an opportunity for South Korea. Despite being a relatively late entrant in the AI sector, the country is determined to develop cutting-edge AI models with the full support of the government.
To enhance its AI capabilities, South Korea aims to acquire 10,000 high-performance graphics processing units (GPUs) within the current year. This move is crucial as of the end of 2023, the country only had around 2,000 GPUs, a vital component for AI development.
Government Initiatives
Choi outlined the government's commitment to providing substantial GPU resources and research funding to ensure that South Korea maintains a leadership position in AI innovation. These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to secure the country's foothold in the competitive AI landscape.
Recent developments raised concerns about data privacy in South Korea, specifically regarding the DeepSeek chatbot. The nation's data protection regulator revealed that the AI model had been transferring user data to a third party, ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok. As a result, the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) in South Korea temporarily halted new downloads of DeepSeek due to privacy issues.
This incident underscores the significance of data protection laws, with South Korean regulations mandating explicit user consent for any sharing of personal information with third parties. It reflects the growing challenges associated with AI technologies and the imperative for robust safeguards to protect user data.
