South Korea is funding free AI to help citizens book appointments, file taxes, and everyday tasks

South Korea is rolling out a nationwide initiative to make artificial intelligence accessible to every citizen, much like basic utilities or public transportation. Dubbed 'AI for All', the government-backed plan aims to address concerns about reliance on foreign AI models, particularly from the US and China, by offering free AI services to all South Koreans.

These AI tools will extend beyond standard question-answering capabilities, seamlessly integrating with various government services. Residents will be able to schedule medical appointments, get tax advice, search for housing, and access other public services through AI. Small businesses can also leverage free AI for tasks like tax filing and government assistance program eligibility checks.

Parents will receive personalized educational recommendations for their children, and citizens will have unrestricted access to AI for educational purposes.

To fuel this ambitious project, the government will provide selected AI providers with up to 512 Nvidia B200 chips and assist in covering operating costs, though the total program budget remains undisclosed. The initiative is part of South Korea's broader strategy to enhance AI sovereignty, reflecting the government's recognition of AI as critical national infrastructure.

This move diverges from the US approach, where free premium AI access has primarily been restricted to specific demographics, such as students through Google's AI Pro program for students. In contrast, South Korea's program will provide free access to all citizens. Meanwhile, international tech companies are sounding the alarm about increasing risks posed by AI-powered cyberattacks.

The warning comes from a coalition of firms including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Microsoft, and over 100 others, urging a global effort to bolster cyber defense as AI models become more capable and automate attacks. Hospitals, water treatment facilities, and internet infrastructure are among the systems identified as potentially vulnerable.

Anthropic has introduced its Model Hardware Standard (MHS), a shared specification that enables AI agents to safely control lab equipment and factory machinery, significantly reducing the integration time from months to hours or minutes. The standard is currently available through a waitlist for select research labs and manufacturers, with plans for open-source release in the future.