[AI Hanip News] "We Are Afraid of AI"

Editor's NoteSince the emergence of ChatGPT, the world has been buzzing with artificial intelligence (AI). Technology is changing daily, and news is pouring in. Even top industry experts are struggling to keep up. It's overwhelming to consume everything, but you can't afford to miss out either. We deliver the core of weekly AI issues, carefully selected and easy to digest.

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Musk: “There Should Be a Dedicated AI Regulation Department”

Elon Musk, Tesla CEO, who has argued strongly for strict AI regulations to the extent of claiming AI could bring about the end of humanity, has now proposed to the U.S. government the establishment of a dedicated AI regulatory department.

On the 13th (local time), leaders of major U.S. tech companies gathered at the U.S. Congress to discuss AI regulation. Present were AI industry giants from around the world, including Musk, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft (MS), and Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft.

Chuck Schumer, Democratic Senate Majority Leader who led the meeting, asked whether the government should play a role in regulating AI, and reported that everyone present raised their hands in agreement.

In particular, Musk appeared to voice strong opinions on AI regulation. After the meeting, he told reporters that there should be a federal government-level "AI department" for AI regulation, emphasizing, "Because the consequences of AI going wrong are severe, we need proactive measures rather than reactive ones."

Global Competition in AI Regulation

Moves to regulate AI are happening worldwide. Governments, caught off guard by AI's rapid development, are scrambling to establish relevant laws.

Recently, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Union (EU) Commission, requested policymakers to form a global panel to assess the risks and benefits of AI. The EU, which passed an AI regulation bill in the plenary session in June, is now taking concrete steps. The bill prohibits governments from using AI to surveil citizens. It also bans the use of facial recognition technology in public places for citizen surveillance or by judicial authorities for investigations.

China announced interim measures starting August 15. Service providers must submit security assessments and obtain approval before launching AI products. China also plans to implement an AI law within a few years, focusing on ensuring that generative AI like ChatGPT complies with "core socialist values." Controlling AI-generated information is a top priority to prevent threats to the socialist system.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the 20th Emergency Economic and Livelihood Meeting and Korea's Super-large AI Leap Conference held at the Blue House's Yeongbingwan on the 13th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol: "AI Should Maximize the Welfare of All Humanity"

AI-related activities are also active domestically. On the 13th, at the Blue House State Guest House, during the 20th Emergency Economic and Livelihood Meeting themed "Korea's Leap to Super-large AI," President Yoon Suk-yeol emphasized in his opening remarks that "in creating normative orders for AI, the order and norms should be based on maximizing the welfare of all humanity."

President Yoon cited past examples where automobile emissions regulations and liability insurance systems contributed to the popularization of car culture, stating, “Excessive regulation must be avoided, but regulations that enable better and proper use are necessary. When I meet politicians worldwide, they talk about how fake news spreads faster than light using AI and digital technologies, undermining liberal democracy and potentially ruining our future.”

About 70 people attended the meeting, including representatives from domestic companies engaged in AI businesses such as LG AI Research, Naver, Kakao, SK Telecom, KT, researchers from research institutes, and AI major students. This was the first time President Yoon held a separate meeting with domestic company representatives on the topic of AI.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced at the meeting the "National AI Everyday Implementation Plan," prepared by 20 government ministries and agencies. The plan involves investing 909 billion KRW by 2024 to promote AI integration in public services, industrial sites, medical and legal institutions, among others.