Only the National Assembly Plenary Session Remains for the 'AI Basic Act'... Industry Welcomes Resolution of Uncertainty

Passage of AI Basic Act by National Assembly Judiciary Committee on 17th
Industry "AI Uncertainty Resolved" Positive
Discussion on Detailing Content Must Continue

The Basic Act on Artificial Intelligence Development and Trust Foundation (hereinafter referred to as the AI Basic Act) is expected to be enacted within this year. Industry insiders have evaluated that a legal foundation for AI has been established, and emphasized that the future policy direction is crucial.

Yonhap News

The AI Basic Act, which passed the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 17th, includes provisions regulating necessary matters for AI development and trust foundation, as well as defining related concepts. It also contains the basis for establishing the Presidential National Artificial Intelligence Committee and the Artificial Intelligence Safety Research Institute.

Additionally, it defines AI that can significantly affect or pose risks to human life, physical safety, and fundamental rights as "high-impact artificial intelligence," and includes provisions to ensure its safety. In case of violation of the law, the Ministry of Science and ICT may require operators to submit related materials or conduct investigations. The AI Basic Act will be enacted if it passes the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 30th.

The related industry is showing interest in resolving uncertainties and in the specific future policy directions. An industry official said, "The AI Basic Act contains only basic content, so there is little disagreement, but if follow-up policies lead to regulations, the industry will respond negatively." Although both ruling and opposition parties agreed on the need to promptly pass the AI Basic Act in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, there were differences of opinion regarding the scope of application of the bill.

AI image created by ChatGPT Photo by ChatGPT

Kim Dong-hwan, CEO of AI startup FortyTwoMaru, said, "It is right for the AI Basic Act to be passed quickly in order to systematize and legislate AI-related matters," adding, "After the enactment of the Basic Act, comprehensive issues related to AI such as learning rights, copyright, and portrait rights should be reviewed and detailed discussions should begin." He continued, "From the perspective of promoting the AI industry, government-supported research and development (R&D) projects designed to tolerate startup failures or direct subsidy support plans can be considered."

Another startup official said, "To simultaneously achieve the goals of AI promotion and safety, companies' self-verification of reliability and safety evaluation will become increasingly important," adding, "It is also necessary for the nation to establish generally applicable reliability verification standards and to operate an evaluation and certification system in parallel."