[Inside Chodong] Between AlphaGo and ChatGPT

On March 9, 2016, people gathered in the match hall set up at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno-gu, Seoul, began to murmur. Sighs could be heard from various places. It was the moment when Lee Sedol 9-dan resigned after 186 moves in a four-hour match against the artificial intelligence (AI) ‘AlphaGo.’ This was a loss by resignation for Lee 9-dan. The difference in territory was so large that counting was unnecessary. Before the match, victory was anticipated, so it felt as if AI surpassing humans had suddenly arrived. It was called the ‘AlphaGo Shock.’ This match became a catalyst for countries around the world to rush to secure AI technology.

Seven years later, in 2023, we encountered another AI. It brought a wave as big as, if not bigger than, AlphaGo. This is the story of ‘ChatGPT,’ developed by OpenAI. Although both are called AI, seven years have passed, and AlphaGo and ChatGPT are quite different. There is no need to delve into technical differences. You can just ask ChatGPT. When asked about the difference between AlphaGo and ChatGPT, it replied, “AlphaGo is specialized in playing Go and uses specific algorithms for this purpose, whereas ChatGPT is a general-purpose language model designed for natural language conversations and can generate responses on a wide range of topics.” Not only is the answer itself telling, but the very act of asking questions and having a conversation already shows the biggest difference between AlphaGo and ChatGPT. AlphaGo, which learned nearly infinite possibilities to play Go, was amazing but was considered to exist at a distance. However, ChatGPT, which anyone can ask and receive competent answers from, has quietly stepped into our lives. The idea that AI will change not only industries but also our daily lives was once just a forecast or a declarative slogan, but now it has become an imminent reality.

So, after the ‘AlphaGo Shock,’ have we properly prepared for the ‘AI era’ that has now arrived in reality? We asked ChatGPT again. ChatGPT evaluated, “South Korea’s AI technology has continued to develop significantly since the match between AlphaGo and Lee Sedol. The AlphaGo and Lee Sedol match was a turning point in the AI field and demonstrated AI’s potential in complex decision-making tasks. Since then, South Korea’s AI has made remarkable progress in various areas.” This is quite positive. Specifically, it said, “Based on research, industrial applications, startup ecosystems, talent development, and government support, South Korea has established itself as a leader in the global AI market.” The recent evaluation by Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, who visited Korea, aligns with this. He said, “Korean AI startups have fully acquired the competitiveness to perform on the international stage. Korea already possesses many assets that can foster AI development, such as semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, and Korean startups are proving their competitiveness on the global stage.”

This is the result of Korean companies investing in AI technology development and the government continuously providing policy support to enhance AI competitiveness. We have come this far from a state of ‘shock.’ The innovation of many startups that have struggled with AI technology also played a part. Between AlphaGo and ChatGPT, we have not wasted time. While we cannot be fully satisfied, there is no need to be discouraged either. It is true that we are still behind leading countries like the United States in this field. However, it is not something to merely admire from afar. Now is the time to strengthen our competitiveness and step onto the stage. There is no law that says a company surpassing OpenAI cannot emerge from our startup ecosystem.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.