Generative AI Capacity-Based System: Pay According to Usage
29 Models Including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini Now Available
Expected Cost Savings Compared to Previous Subscription Model
Going forward, Seoul city employees will be able to utilize 29 different artificial intelligence models, including ChatGPT and Gemini, for administrative work. Previously, only one designated artificial intelligence (AI) model could be used under a subscription-based system, but now users can select a model that best suits the nature of their work.
On September 3, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will introduce "Seoul AI Chat," a generative AI capacity-based service, where costs are paid and usage is determined according to the volume used by each organization.
Since last year, Seoul has been recruiting employees to pilot generative AI for work tasks and implemented a "new technology usage fee support (subscription system)." However, demand to expand the program has grown as the number of applicants exceeded the available slots (570 employees) by three to four times.
Employees who participated in the "subscription-based pilot" actively used AI for a variety of tasks, including idea generation (28%), research (27%), and document creation (19%), with over 90% reportedly using ChatGPT.
With the introduction of "Seoul AI Chat," unlike the previous subscription model that allowed access to only a specific model, employees will be able to utilize a total of 29 models-including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Llama, Mistral AI, and Grok-according to their needs, which is expected to improve both work efficiency and quality. Additionally, while expanding the subscription system that supports a flat-rate service of about 30,000 won per month per employee to all staff would require approximately 300 million won annually, it has been found that the capacity-based system, which charges based on actual usage, could be operated for about 200 million won per year.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to introduce the generative AI capacity-based "Seoul AI Chat" to all employees, operate both the existing subscription and capacity-based systems during the pilot period, analyze their respective advantages and disadvantages, and review usage data to decide whether to fully implement it next year. Kang Okhyun, Director of Seoul's Digital City Bureau, stated, "Through this pilot project, we have overcome the limitations of the previous subscription system, enabling all employees to extensively utilize generative AI in their work. Moving forward, we will use AI as an administrative tool that citizens can experience, aiming to establish Seoul's AI administration as not only the nation's first but also the national standard."
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