For tourists visiting South Korea, one of the world's most technologically advanced nations, navigating the country's urban heartlands can prove surprisingly frustrating for one simple reason: Google Maps just doesn't work effectively. But on 11 August that could change, as South Korean authorities are set to decide whether to finally grant Google's request to export the country's detailed mapping data to overseas servers. Such a move would open up functionality that allows the app to give detailed directions and show users the best routes to travel. It is a debate spanning nearly two decades which has evolved into a broader test of how democracies balance digital sovereignty with economic openness. Local industry groups are warning of market domination from foreign companies, while those who back Google's request argue restrictions harm tourism and innovation.

OpenAI said on Tuesday it will develop artificial intelligence products for South Korea with chat app operator Kakao, unveiling a second major alliance with a high-profile Asian partner this week. In a whirlwind tour through Asia, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also announced a partnership with Japan's SoftBank on Monday and is, according to sources, scheduled to visit India on Wednesday where he is seeking to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Like SoftBank, Kakao said it would be using technology developed by the ChatGPT creator for its products.

"I am captivated by a sense of fear I have never experienced in my entire life …" a user named Heehit wrote in a Google Play review of an app called Science of Love. This review was written right after news organizations accused the app's parent company, ScatterLab, of collecting intimate conversations between lovers without informing the users and then using the data to build a conversational A.I. chatbot called Lee-Luda. A majority of Americans are not confident about how companies will behave when it comes to using and protecting personal data. But it can be hard to imagine the potential harms--exactly how a company misusing or compromising data can possibly affect us and our lives. A recent incident of personal data misuse in South Korea provides us a clear picture of what can go wrong, and how consumers can fight back.

Kakao, the operator of South Korea's top mobile messenger, is expected to roll out a new artificial intelligence-based speaker brand in the second half of this year, according to industry sources Monday. The company's AI subsidiary Kakao Enterprise has trademarked a new product called Mini Hexa. However, further details have not yet been revealed. It is reportedly reviewing details, including when it would officially showcase the voice-enabled speaker. The new model is likely to use AI engines developed by Kakao Enterprise, a spin-off of Kakao's former AI unit.

China and the U.S. are the two countries most closely associated with artificial intelligence (AI) technology, but a startup in Korea is out to add its nation to mix after it raised more than $9 million from some big-name investors. Skelter Labs, which was founded in 2015 by Google's former chief technical officer in Korea, announced today that it has raised KRW 10 billion ($9.3 million). Korean internet and messaging giant Kakao is a major backer, investing in the round via both its'KakaoBrain' AI unit and its K-Cube VC firm, both of which are existing investors. Stonebridge Ventures and Lotte Homeshopping, the TV and internet shopping business owned by multi-billion dollar retail giant Lotte, also participated. Skelter Labs started out as an app development house when it was initially founded by CEO Ted Cho, the former engineering site director at Google Korea, with products that include a flight booking app, chatbot network and point-of-sale software, but, over the past year, it began to focus on AI.

SpaceX is now a step closer to launching broadband-powering satellites into orbit. Editor's Remarks: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that the agency would approve SpaceX's application to leverage satellite technology to provide broadband to the US and wider world. FCC chairman Ajit Pai said that the opportunity would help remove the US' digital divide and bring online rural parts of the country that are still without reliable internet. SpaceX declined to give an immediate statement regarding the progress but previous releases show that the company wants to launch 4,425 satellites that will form a constellation 800 miles above the Earth. Apple's latest offering costs $216 to build, giving it a lower margin than the company's other goods.

South Korean mobile messenger operator Kakao has partnered with Samsung Electronics in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, Yonhap news agency reports. Under the terms of the deal, Kakao will integrate its'Kakao I' AI platform with Samsung's voice recognition software Bixby. Kakao also plans to expand cooperation with Samsung in other sectors, such as the IoT.

Two chief executives of major messaging apps in India and South Korea predicted a decline in the importance of texting via keyboards and a rise in the use of cameras and voice activation to communicate. Speaking at The Wall Street Journal's D.Live Asia conference, Kakao Corp. Chief Executive Rim Ji-hoon said the South Korean firm would roll out voice-activated artificial intelligence services in the third quarter of this year.

Kakao Corp (CEO: Ji Hoon Yim) announced on May 23rd that it will begin large-scale recruiting events as part of Kakao's effort to strengthen its AI business. Kakao established a new AI department earlier this year to formally prepare for its AI business and has stepped up to attract talents, especially those who have advanced degrees (masters and PhDs) in related fields. Large-scale recruitment from a specific area has not been executed since its merger with Daum in October 2014. Recruitment will be carried out in a rolling basis in seven different areas: Search modeling, search statistical analysis, multimedia processing, voice processing, natural language processing, recommendation technology, and recommendation data application. Anyone with Masters degrees or higher who is equipped with professional knowledge in the abovementioned fields are eligible to apply, regardless of their majors.