The program exists and is substantially as described. Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT launched the "AI for All Project" on July 13, deploying 512 Nvidia B200 GPUs to offer free public AI chatbot services within the year, with operating-cost support beginning next year.

The ministry said it plans to offer general-purpose AI chatbot services available to all citizens without cost or usage limits, plus a public AI agent, and that selected companies must use domestically developed models meeting independent foundation model criteria for at least 50% of their service, plus at least 30% from other domestic Korean models.

On timing: after a late-September beta service, the general-purpose chatbot and a public-service AI agent that helps citizens search for and apply to government services are to be delivered by year-end . A beta was expected by end of September with official launch before the end of 2026, and the government said it would supply up to 512 Nvidia B200 GPUs, with selected companies also contributing their own funding.

On the operator selection, which happened the day the post was published: MSIT said on Friday August 28 that it had selected consortia led by SK Telecom, Kakao and KT following evaluation of six applicants; the three groups will receive access to a total of 512 Nvidia B200 GPUs this year to develop general-purpose chatbots, public-service AI agents and specialized services, with government funding for nationwide service from 2027.

The ministry plans to sign agreements in September before launching the service by year-end.

On the long-term goal: starting in 2027 the ministry plans to advance the public service agent toward what officials describe as an era of one agent per citizen, and operators must route at least 50% of queries through their own certified domestic model plus 30% through models from other Korean companies, a domestic floor of 80%.