South Korea to Give 51 Million Residents Unlimited Access to AI Tools

South Korea announced a program Tuesday to let every adult in the country use advanced artificial intelligence services without per-user limits, a move the government says will spur productivity and shrink gaps in digital access.

The Cabinet said the initiative will roll out in stages starting next month and will be available to roughly 51 million people through accounts tied to national ID numbers. Officials described agreements with domestic tech firms and several foreign vendors to supply chat assistants, automated writing and translation tools, coding aides and search enhancements. The government will cover most of the operating costs and offer the services free at the point of use.

Privacy and security safeguards were highlighted as part of the plan. Seoul said user interactions will be stored on local servers where possible, and that a new oversight body will monitor data handling and flag misuse. Civil rights groups cautioned that the safeguards will need teeth, noting the potential for sensitive personal data to be collected and for the tools to spread errors if left unchecked.

Advocates argue the program could help students, small businesses and public servants work faster and serve citizens better. A university researcher who has studied earlier pilots said those tests cut administrative processing times and helped some startups produce marketing materials with fewer staff. Still, experts urge realistic expectations: accuracy varies by task, and training will be needed for people to get reliable results.

Labor groups raised alarms about job losses, prompting the government to promise retraining. Officials propose spending on upskilling programs aimed at roughly one-fourth of the workforce most exposed to automation, and they plan to expand vocational training partnerships with private companies.

South Korea’s high-speed internet and widespread device ownership give the country an edge in deploying such a program quickly. The first phase will target students and public-sector employees, with nationwide availability expected within the year. Observers say the rollout will be closely watched as a test of whether broad public access to these services can deliver real gains without worsening privacy or labor tensions.