The Lawmaker is Studying Hard with ChatGPT... Why the Political Sphere is Obsessed with AI

Speaker Kim Jin-pyo Directly Preparing Legislation
Ruling and Opposition Lawmakers Say, "ChatGPT, Write Rebuttal Materials"
12 Related Bills Proposed... Legislation Still in Early Stages

The conversational artificial intelligence 'ChatGPT,' which surpassed 100 million monthly users just two months after its launch, is creating a strong wave in the domestic political arena as well. From 'creating press releases' through ChatGPT to 'policy proposal requests' necessary for the development of local governments, various ways of experiencing and utilizing ChatGPT are already in place. President Yoon Seok-yeol even mentioned that he had ChatGPT draft this year's New Year's address.

The National Assembly is also holding a series of discussions related to ChatGPT. While discussions have frequently been held mainly by lawmakers interested in science, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI), it has been rare for the National Assembly as a whole to roll up its sleeves. However, Kim Jin-pyo, the Speaker of the National Assembly and the head of the legislature, has emphasized the need to compete with the world's top-tier countries by preparing laws and policies suitable for the AI era. This reflects a widespread sense of crisis and urgency that proactive measures must be taken in response to the upheaval the AI era will bring.

◆Kim Jin-pyo: "New Growth Engines Are Urgently Needed... I Will Personally Propose Bills in the Speaker's Name"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Speaker's office on the 11th, Kim has recently been actively working on legislation related to AI and preparing budget support measures. A spokesperson from the Speaker's public relations office said, "Kim is paying attention to the fact that the domestic economy is in a serious 'complex economic crisis (perfect storm).'" He added, "The growth strategy centered on large corporations has reached its limit, and in the era of global technological hegemony competition, the ultimate winner will inevitably be a strong venture startup nation."

Kim is reportedly very interested in ways to create new growth engines that can rescue the Korean economy, which is stuck in a quagmire. For this reason, he is receiving a lot of advice on AI era countermeasures and related educational reforms. The spokesperson also said that Kim urges the government to actively listen to the demands of companies and work on policies that can support them.

On the previous day, Kim held a meeting at the National Assembly titled "Desirable Legislative and Policy Directions for Revitalizing Ventures and Startups," stating, "All opinions from the meeting will be communicated to the offices of lawmakers so that necessary legislation and policies can be enacted before the regular session." This is an extension of his recent AI-related activities.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Since meeting with Brad Smith, Vice Chairman of Microsoft (MS), on the 18th of last month, Kim has been accelerating AI-related legislation. At the meeting with Vice Chairman Smith, Kim emphasized the harmony between fostering AI-related industries and regulation, and also asked to share MS's experiences. Not stopping there, he personally attended a presentation where Smith spoke and listened attentively. During the demonstration of ChatGPT, he nodded along with Lee Kwang-jae, Secretary General of the National Assembly, occasionally showing surprise.

On the 9th, a national major discussion forum was held on the theme of "Educational Reform in the AI Era," where Kim advocated for a "paradigm shift." He explained the importance of nurturing talent and securing teacher capabilities suitable for the AI era. Regarding the reality where domestic talents only aim for medical schools, he sharply criticized, saying, "If everyone only wants to become a doctor, that society will collapse," and added, "Because we are still using educational methods from 100 years ago, isn't the whole of Korea continuing a march of fools?" He stressed, "A new educational paradigm that fosters diversity, convergence, and creative talent is urgently needed."

Kim plans not to hesitate in playing the necessary role in the changes brought by the AI era. The opinions presented at the venture and startup meeting the previous day will be delivered to each party's negotiation group, relevant standing committee chairs, and secretaries, and if necessary, he plans to push for bill proposals in the Speaker's name. A spokesperson from the Speaker's office said, "The meeting that started at 10 a.m. continued until after lunch," lasting about four hours. That shows how 'serious' he is. The spokesperson added, "The relevant ministries and the National Assembly agreed to present concrete legislation within a month," and said, "(Kim) said, 'Let's first pick out what can be done immediately. We will identify and push forward the necessary parts.'" Accordingly, AI-related corporate support bills are expected to be proposed as early as June.

◆Politicians Paying Attention to ChatGPT and AI: "Write Rebuttal Materials"

Both the People Power Party and the Democratic Party have also started responding to changes in the AI era at the party level. On the day, the Democratic Party's Special Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation held a roundtable discussion at the National Assembly titled "Response and Challenges in the ChatGPT Era," discussing the roles of the government, National Assembly, and society. Jo Seung-rae, chairman of the party's Science and Technology Special Committee, said, "With the emergence of ChatGPT, the AI era has become an inevitable trend," adding, "We need to explore what preemptive measures our society should take and prepare from now on to lead and naturally adapt to the new era."

On the 19th, a seminar addressing ethical issues and solutions related to ChatGPT and generative AI will be held for the entire public. The event is co-hosted by the office of Song Seok-jun, a People Power Party lawmaker, the International Association for Artificial Intelligence and Ethics (IAAE), and THE AI, an AI specialized media outlet. Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, and Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, are expected to attend and discuss ways to safely and desirably expand AI dissemination.

Some proactive politicians are already using ChatGPT technology on the ground. Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, announced on the 3rd that he held the nation's first ChatGPT utilization contest. He said, "We confirmed that ChatGPT can be used in various fields such as legal affairs, procurement, welfare, and transportation," adding, "We will gradually reflect small, easily applicable things in provincial administration." Ahn Byung-gil, a People Power Party lawmaker, previously issued a press release criticizing the Democratic Party's proposed amendment to the Grain Management Act using ChatGPT.

◆12 AI-Related Bills Proposed, but Passing Probability Is 'Zero'

Although interest in ChatGPT is high in the political world, related legislation is still in its infancy. According to the Legislative Information System, there are a total of 12 AI-related bills pending in the National Assembly. Representative bills include the 'Artificial Intelligence Responsibility Act (2032),' which outlines basic principles for AI development and use, responsibilities of businesses, and rights of users; the 'Artificial Intelligence Education Promotion Act (2022, 2021),' which mandates the enactment of laws necessary to introduce AI technology into the education sector; and the 'Artificial Intelligence Industry Promotion Act (2020),' which provides systematic support such as tax and levy reductions for AI specialized companies.

However, some have not passed the National Assembly for years. Yoo Ki-hong, chairman of the National Assembly's Education Committee, said, "There are AI promotion bills, but I think the possibility of their passage in the 21st National Assembly is almost zero," and suggested, "A special committee on educational reform dedicated to passing related bills and budgets is necessary."