The National Assembly Research Service has recommended a reevaluation of the current selection process for the independent AI foundation model (독파모) project, which is being promoted by the Ministry of Science and ICT. The report suggests that fostering specialized AI in fields such as healthcare and manufacturing could enhance national competitiveness more effectively than the current focus on a select few teams.
According to the report published on July 17, the 독파모 initiative operates through an audition-style process that progressively eliminates teams. It states, "It is necessary to reconsider whether concentrating support solely on survival teams is appropriate for enhancing the overall AI resilience of the nation."
The report advises that the government should not only pursue a top-down strategy centered on large foundation models but also consider a bottom-up approach that nurtures smaller, specialized AI models across various sectors. This dual approach is essential for the completion of a robust AI ecosystem.
This recommendation emerged during an analysis of the U.S. government's temporary export controls on Anthropic's high-performance AI models, 'Mythos 5' and 'Fable 5,' citing national security concerns. The report concludes that this case highlights the need to realign South Korea's sovereign AI policy direction.
Furthermore, the report argues that the sovereign AI strategy should extend beyond merely securing domestic models to strengthening sovereign control over the entire AI ecosystem, including models, markets, and security management.
It also emphasizes the need to enhance AI security capabilities. The report calls for elevating AI security to an independent policy area and increasing public and private investment. Additionally, it stresses the importance of establishing a national AI safety verification system to ensure the technical expertise and independence of specialized institutions, such as AI safety research centers.
Moreover, the report advocates for governance reform. It suggests restoring the policy implementation framework involving the National AI Strategy Committee, the Chief of AI Future Planning, and the Deputy Prime Minister for Science and AI to enhance the effectiveness of the sovereign AI strategy.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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