Safety Takes Precedence Over Regulation in AI Content Environment Desired by Consumers

Consumers who actively seek out AI-generated content report higher satisfaction and future consumption intentions compared to those who passively receive it through algorithmic recommendations. Additionally, consumers are calling on the government to establish a transparent labeling system rather than imposing strict commercial restrictions on AI content.

The Korea Culture and Tourism Institute, led by Director Hwang Kyo-ik, published a report titled "AI-Generated Content: Perceptions Varying by Consumption Experience" based on a survey of 2,000 adults across the country.

The survey found that 78.0% of respondents had experience consuming AI-generated content. The institute categorized these individuals into 'active consumers' (47.4%) who search for content themselves and 'passive consumers' (30.7%) who encounter it through platform exposure or algorithmic recommendations.

Overall satisfaction with AI-generated content averaged 4.29 out of 6. Among different genres, text-based content received the highest satisfaction score of 4.54, while video content scored lower at 4.14.

Notably, active consumers reported a satisfaction level 0.20 points higher than passive consumers and expressed a significantly stronger intention to continue using AI-generated content. This indicates that relying solely on platform-driven recommendations may not effectively encourage voluntary content exploration and consumption.

When asked about their main concerns regarding AI content usage, over half of the respondents (51.6%) cited the generation and misuse of false or manipulated information. Active consumers were more concerned about copyright issues, while passive consumers expressed greater worry about privacy and portrait rights.

Despite the varying concerns, there was unanimous agreement on the need for government intervention to create safety nets. More than 90% of respondents called for government action to block false information and protect copyrights.

When asked about the most urgent policy, 66% of respondents indicated that mandatory labeling of AI-generated content should be prioritized. This was followed by support for technology to detect false or manipulated information (62.6%). In contrast, demands for restrictions on commercial use (31.8%) and the establishment of a compensation system for original creators (27.1%) ranked lower. The emphasis is on increasing transparency to clearly identify AI-generated outputs rather than imposing regulations that could stifle the market.

Director Hwang Kyo-ik stated, "As AI-generated content rapidly permeates daily life, user behaviors and perceptions are diversifying. I hope this analysis will serve as a foundation for developing policies that can capture the changing market dynamics and support the continued growth of the content industry."

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