South Korea Ranks Second Worldwide in Paid ChatGPT Users: What Does This Really Imply?

Recently, OpenAI announced that South Korea has the world’s second-highest number of paid ChatGPT subscribers, trailing only the US. While this headline seems impressive, experts caution that subscriber numbers alone don’t indicate a mature AI market. Jason Kwon, OpenAI’s Chief Strategy Officer, highlighted Korea’s growing presence in AI, with a 4.5-fold increase in weekly active users over the past year. However, observers argue that Korea’s digital infrastructure, such as its near-universal smartphone use and robust broadband access, plays a larger role in these statistics than a profound understanding of AI. Kang Jung-soo from BludotAI noted that Korea’s second-place ranking may reflect minor margins rather than dominant market leadership. Additionally, cultural factors, such as the impact of AlphaGo’s victory in 2016, have fostered a rapid adoption of AI technologies, making them more immediately relevant in daily life.

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