South Korean President: ``I asked AI'' Controversy over Cabinet meeting attendance by head of investigative agency

[Seoul Current Affairs] South Korean President Lee Jae-myung revealed on the 21st that he asked Google's conversational artificial intelligence (AI) Gemini about issues of concern, causing controversy. Although the decision was made to refute criticism regarding the attendance of the head of an investigative agency at a cabinet meeting, citing legal grounds, concerns have been voiced over the excessive use of AI.

It all started when Kim Ji-yong, director of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, attended a cabinet meeting on the 20th. The Heavy Investigation Agency was established as an agency responsible for investigating political corruption and other matters following the abolition of the Public Prosecutors Office on the 2nd. At a cabinet meeting, Mr. Lee instructed Mr. Kim to investigate serious crimes "without sanctuaries."

As concerns grew that the matter was infringing on the independence of investigative agencies, Lee posted on X (formerly Twitter) on the 21st, explaining, ``I asked Gemini.'' Citing the Constitution and Government Organization Law as grounds, the president argued that the president has the power to supervise the administration, and countered that the Agency of Investigation is also subject to the president's supervision.

In response, the main conservative opposition party, People's Power, criticized the idea, saying, ``This is an insane idea that anything in the management of national government can be justified as long as there are answers from AI.'' Mr. Lee's post was accompanied by comments such as ``Gemini should be president'' and ``Will you listen to Gemini's voice and not the people's voice?''