The Application of Delphi-AHP Method in the Priority of Policies for Expanding the Use of Artificial Intelligence

Governments around the world are actively establishing strategies and initiatives to spread the use of artificial intelligence (AI), for AI is not a mere new technology, but is an innovative technology that brings about extensive changes in industrial and social structures and is a core engine that will lead the 4th Industrial Revolution. The South Korean government has also been paying attention to AI as a technology and tool for innovative growth, but its application to the industries is still rather sluggish. The government has prepared multifarious AI-related policies with the aim of constructing South Korea as an AI powerhouse, but there is no clear strategy on which detailed policies to implement first and which industries to apply AI preferentially. With these limitations of South Korea's AI policies in mind, this paper analyzed the priorities of industries in AI adoption and the priorities of AI-related national policies, using Delphi-AHP method for 30 top-level AI experts in South Korea. The results of analysis show that AI application is urgent and necessary in the fields of medical/healthcare, public and safety, and manufacturing, which seems to reflect the peak of the COVID-19 crisis in the second half of 2020 at the time of the investigation. And it turns out that policies related to AI talent cultivation, data, and R&D investment are important and urgent above all in order for organizations to apply AI. This suggests that strategies are required to focus limited national resources on these industries and policies first.