South Korea is all set to make artificial intelligence available to every citizen without subscription fees or usage limits. The government’s ‘AI for All’ initiative offers a general-purpose AI chatbot powered primarily by South Korean-developed models.
The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to launch a beta service in late September, with wider public services expected by the end of 2026. The program will eventually move beyond chatbots towards personal AI agents.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, “South Korea is planning to provide its whole population with free generative AI services as part of an initiative known as ‘AI for All.’ The aim is to help people with things like booking medical appointments, finding housing and dealing with their taxes.”
This represents a major shift from popular AI platforms because there are usually limits or costs associated with increased usage of the AI system. Under the initiative, citizens will receive access without usage or token limits. The government hopes that AI will become an accessible digital service. It also aims to prevent differences in AI access from creating new economic and social divides.
South Korea reports that two-thirds of its citizens used AI services. In 2025, 23 million citizens used generative AI, but there are still people who have not used the technology.
The initiative will not be limited to conversations with an AI chatbot. A public AI agent will help citizens discover government benefits and support programs, while also assisting with applications. The program is also part of South Korea’s effort to strengthen its domestic AI ecosystem and reduce dependence on US and Chinese AI models.
Participating services must use qualifying domestic sovereign AI models for at least 50% of their service. Another 30% must come from domestic models developed by other companies. South Korea allocated around 10 trillion won (USD 7.2 billion) for AI-related spending in 2026, which is three times the previous year’s allocation.
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