South Korea becomes first country to pass law on safe AI use

South Korea has made history by becoming the first country in the world to officially enforce a comprehensive law on artificial intelligence safety. The new regulation, called the AI Basic Act, took effect on Thursday, according to the country’s science ministry.

The law emphasizes responsible AI companies, particularly in the context of deepfakes, misinformation, and harmful content. Under this law, AI-generated images, videos, or text will bear watermarks that will easily identify them as AI-generated content.

Additionally, the act establishes “high-risk AI” that entails applications used for key activities such as the hiring of employees, loan processing, and providing health-related information. Such organizations need to let the users of their services know that AI is used and that the services offered are safe.

Big global tech firms like OpenAI and Google are required to assign local representatives in South Korea. Violations can lead to fines, though the government will allow a one-year adjustment period. Alongside regulation, the law also supports AI growth, aiming for innovation that’s both smart and safe.