Artificial intelligence (AI) policy officials from major global tech companies, including OpenAI and Google, have asked the Korean government for flexibility in implementing the AI Basic Act, sources said Tuesday.
OpenAI's Sandy Kunvatanagarn, and Google's Alice Hunt Friend and Eunice Huang held respective meetings with officials from the AI policy team at the Ministry of Science and ICT, according to the sources.
Jared Ragland from the Business Software Alliance (BSA), which represents around 70 global software companies, including Adobe, IBM and Microsoft, also met separately with the ministry.
The AI Basic Act, aimed at promoting the industry and ensuring the safe use of AI, was passed by the National Assembly in December and will take effect in January 2026. It is considered the world's second AI law, following that of the European Union.
The ICT ministry is now working on devising enforcement ordinances for the AI Basic Act.
During the meetings, officials from the global tech companies and the BSA requested a more flexible application of regulations compared with the strict AI regulations in the EU.
They also inquired about the scope of operator liability and the definition of high-impact applications, the sources said. (Yonhap)