{
  "id": 7747229,
  "title": "Korea cannot afford to slow down AI development: science minister",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/korea-cannot-afford-to-slow-down-ai-development-science-minister-7747229",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-16T08:57:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/tech-science/20260916/korea-cannot-afford-to-slow-down-ai-development-science-minister"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Korea's Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon warned on Wednesday that the country cannot afford to slow down its rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. However, he emphasized that the focus should be on responsible growth rather than merely speeding up the process. Minister Bae pointed out that the disparity between nations that have attained advanced AI models comparable to human intelligence and those that have not could widen beyond just a technological divide. This gap could potentially impact other sectors, including the nation's industrial competitiveness, national security, and future economic expansion. Despite his strong advocacy for rapid AI advancement, Minister Bae cautioned against reckless acceleration, advocating for parallel investment in safety measures and building public trust in the emerging technology. His remarks come at a time when Korea is striving to maintain its competitive edge in the global AI race.",
  "summary": "Korea \"cannot afford\" to slow down its artificial intelligence (AI) progress, the country's science minister said Wednesday, but noted the emphasis should be put on responsible development rather than the speed of advancement itself. \"It is an entirely different matter for a country already ahead to adjust its pace, than for a nation that is catching up while simultaneously having to create new…",
  "key_points": [
    "Korea's Science Minister warns against slowing AI development.",
    "Focus on responsible growth, not just speed.",
    "Rapid AI advancement risks widening tech gap and impacting sectors."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Investing.com",
        "title": "South Korea cannot afford to slow AI development, Deputy PM says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/south-korea-cannot-afford-to-slow-ai-development-deputy-pm-says",
        "published": "2026-09-16T06:52:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "S. Korea cannot afford to slow down AI development: science minister",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/s-korea-cannot-afford-to-slow-down-ai-development-science-minister",
        "published": "2026-09-16T08:18:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Korea cannot afford to slow down AI development: science minister",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/korea-cannot-afford-to-slow-down-ai-development-science-minister",
        "published": "2026-09-16T08:47:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}