Korea cannot afford to slow down AI development: science minister

South Korea's Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon warned on Wednesday that the nation cannot afford to slow down its artificial intelligence (AI) progress. However, he emphasized that the focus should be on responsible development rather than the speed of advancement. Minister Bae noted that it is a different matter for a country that is already ahead to adjust its pace compared to a nation that is catching up while simultaneously having to create new markets to slow down.

He stressed that "We cannot afford to slow down the pace of AI development," highlighting the potential consequences of falling behind. The minister pointed out that the gap between countries with AI frontier models reaching human-level intelligence and those without could extend beyond a mere technological gap. This gap could affect areas such as industrial competitiveness, national security, and future economic growth.

Despite this, Minister Bae expressed a cautious approach to unconditional acceleration. He stressed that efforts to ensure safety and build trust must go hand in hand with the pace of technological development. The science minister's comments come amidst growing concerns about the rapid advancement of AI technology and its implications for global competitiveness and security.