Will ChatGPT become game changer like iPhone in AI era?

• Published date: 08 March 2023
• Publication title: The Korea Times

Since OpenAI's generative artificial intelligence (AI) service, ChatGPT, was unveiled last November, the field of AI services has seen an explosive increase in attention around the world as many people use the innovative technology simply for kicks or to ask for help in various subjects, including computer software programming, translation, web search and even writing novels and making music.

As shown by ChatGPT, the AI service is now penetrating into our daily lives and will be widely applied to various industrial sectors, while the technology is expected to trigger digital innovation commensurate with the emergence of the internet and smartphones, according to industry experts.

Although companies based in the United States are getting ahead quickly in the field of AI technology, experts say Korean companies involved in areas such as AI memory semiconductor manufacturing, chip design and Korean versions of generative AI services, should not be discouraged, because they have enough time to catch up

"I don't think ChatGPT alone will change the world" said David Chon, CEO of local AI startup, DMLab. But he added that the service is "a beginning of a new chapter in AI product generation."

"Until now, AI technology was mainly used to show what AI can potentially do. With ChatGPT, now AI technology is in a more complete format and can become integrated into our daily activities. I think this is why there is a global buzz around ChatGPT," Chon told The Korea Times.

"I think it will quicken the pace of product development and become integrated into our daily lives faster," the CEO added.

Kim Min-seok, business development manager at local AI chip design company, Furiosa AI, said that the successful rise of ChatGPT signals that AI services are now a new wave.

"I personally think that AI services will penetrate into every vertical market imaginable, across all horizontal functions in existence. OpenAI has recently begun the commercialization of ChatGPT and began offering ChatGPT API (application programing interface) to developers," Kim said.

"This heralds a new age of tremendous potential and ChatGPT is just the start. Large tech companies and hyperscalers, including domestic players like Naver and Kakao, will soon release their own versions of ChatGPT," he added.

Considering the fact that ChatGPT garnered over a million users since the service was opened on Nov. 30, Lee Sang-heon, a researcher at Hi Investment and Securities, said it can be highly utilized not only for...