[Insight & Opinion] The Balance Between Artificial Intelligence and Basic Science Is Crucial

The new administration is moving swiftly toward its goal of becoming one of the world's top three artificial intelligence (AI) powers. The government has appointed young private-sector AI experts in their 40s as both the Minister of Science and ICT and the Senior Secretary for AI Future Planning, and has allocated 1.8 trillion won in a supplementary budget to strengthen 'national AI capabilities.' This demonstrates a clear intention to place artificial intelligence, whose future industrial value is indisputable, at the center of national policy.

However, once bitten, twice shy. The science and technology community, having suffered from empty political slogans such as Green Growth, Creative Economy, and Carbon Neutrality, finds itself in a difficult position. Their concerns about an uncontrollable 'AI tsunami' are by no means excessive.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is, surprisingly, a relatively new field. It has been only two years since generative AI based on large language models (LLMs) began to emerge in earnest. There has not been enough time to fully assess the possibilities and limitations of generative AI. Therefore, excessive optimism about AI is unwarranted. The government must not repeat mistakes like the Ministry of Education's reckless push for the 'Artificial Intelligence Digital Textbook' (AIDT), which was promoted as a 'world first.'

The future of artificial intelligence, which no one has yet experienced, clearly belongs to the realm of 'creation.' China's 'DeepSeek,' which imitates American generative AI at a lower cost, is of little significance. A clear understanding of the government's role is essential. An authoritarian mindset, in which the 'state' tries to lead everything, does not fit with artificial intelligence, which demands maximized creativity and originality. There is no reason for the government to build 'data centers' or develop 'sovereign AI' itself. Populist ideas, such as the state taking responsibility for generative AI usage fees, must also be firmly rejected.

The government has a different role to play. Above all, it must ensure a stable supply of the massive amounts of electricity required by generative AI. It must clearly acknowledge that this is impossible with highly volatile and intermittent solar and wind power. Vague hopes for energy storage systems (ESS), which entail enormous costs and fire risks, must be abandoned.

Excessive 'concentration' on artificial intelligence must be avoided. It is impossible to sustain the national economy and people's daily lives with AI alone. The science and technology, industry, environment, healthcare, and education policies must never be devastated by an AI tsunami. We must never forget that the 21st century is an era of diversity and pluralism. Instead, institutional and administrative foundations should be established to maximize the diverse creativity of the private sector. Unnecessary institutional regulations must be thoroughly removed.

In particular, the 'basic sciences,' which were abandoned by the previous administration by branding them as a 'cartel' that divided up and shared national R&D funds, must be revived. There must be a clear policy commitment to 'grassroots basic research' for neglected fields, regional universities, and early-career researchers. The voices of the basic science societies, centered on the Mathematical Society, Physical Society, and Chemical Society, must be heeded.

It is not enough for AI experts to insist that, as 'scientists,' they already understand the value and importance of basic science. Rather, it is much more important to secure specialized personnel who can supplement expertise in basic science and to establish robust institutional mechanisms. Simply elevating the Ministry of Science and ICT to a deputy prime minister-level department will not solve these issues. It is also important to reorganize the Innovation Headquarters, which has failed to fulfill its role.

Lee Deokhwan, Professor Emeritus at Sogang University, Chemistry and Science Communication