South Korea rejects calls to slow AI development

South Korean Science and ICT Minister Bae Kyung-hoon stated that the nation cannot afford to slow the development of artificial intelligence. Bae argued that while established leaders might consider adjusting their pace, catching-up nations must continue accelerating to create new markets and maintain industrial competitiveness.

Bae warned that a widening gap in AI sophistication could impact national security and long-term economic growth. However, he emphasized that safety measures and public trust must advance alongside technological growth to avoid unconditional acceleration.

These remarks come amid a global debate regarding the pace of AI advancement. Industry leaders, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Elon Musk, have called for a slowdown to allow safety oversight to keep pace with technology. Conversely, the U.S. administration under Donald Trump has rejected such calls, characterizing concerns about AI threats as a “hoax” and suggesting that slowing development could provide an advantage to China. China has also criticized efforts to slow progress, warning against competition that undermines global governance.