Seoul: South Korea's science ministry announced on Friday that three consortia led by SK Telecom Co., KT Corp., and Kakao Corp. have been selected to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) service accessible to all, as part of the government's "AI for all" initiative. The ambitious project aims to foster an "AI-basic society" where AI services are available to everyone, irrespective of income, age, or digital literacy.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the selected consortia will be equipped with a total of 512 B200 graphics processing units (GPUs) from Nvidia. The financial requirements for launching the service next year will be covered by government budgets, as stated by the Ministry of Science and ICT. An agreement with each consortium is expected to be signed next month, with the official launch scheduled by the end of the year.

The "AI for all" project was initiated by the government in July, intending to make AI services universally accessible. A key requirement for developers involved in the project is to utilize domestic AI models that comply with the ministry's independent foundation-model standards for at least half of the system. This ensures that the technology is developed in alignment with national standards and priorities.

The project saw applications from a total of six consortia, with the application window closing in mid-August. The selection of the three consortia marks a significant step forward in the government's efforts to integrate AI into everyday life, promoting technological advancement and inclusivity.