Chat GPT is gaining popularity because it can quickly respond to all types of questions.

Attempts to introduce artificial intelligence are being made in all fields. The medical field is no exception, with Chat GPT already providing medical counseling. In particular, Chat GPT is gaining popularity because it can quickly respond to all types of questions.

But there is not only a rosy future. There are also many concerns that the rapid application of artificial intelligence technology can cause risks in the medical field. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA Oncology), serious defects were found in the medical advice presented by Chat GPT for cancer treatment. In a study jointly conducted by Boston Children’s Hospital and others, the researchers created 104 questionnaires related to lung cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer and asked Chat GPT to recommend a treatment. The answers presented by Chat GPT were reviewed by four oncologists according to five criteria and scored. To measure the quality of advice given by Chat GPT to patients, we compared it with cancer treatment guidelines from the U.S. Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). As a result of the review, as many as 34.3% of Chat GPT presented one or more treatment recommendations that did not match NCCN. In addition, about 13% of the responses presented by Chat GPT showed “welcome.” This may sound true, but it means that it is completely inaccurate or unrelated to the question. Dr. Harvey Castro, an emergency medical specialist and AI expert, pointed out, “It is an important concern because incorrect information can lead to harmful decisions by patients.” “The Chat GPT’s response can sound very human-like and quite convincing,” said Daniel Bitterman, co-author of the study and assistant professor of radiation oncology at Harvard Medical School. “The problem is that there are subtle differences between patients in clinical decisions.” “The answer can be very subtle, so ChatGPT or other large-scale language models are not yet available,” Bitterman stressed.

JULIE KIM

US ASIA JOURNAL

Following the Supreme Court’s rejection of President Biden’s previous student loan forgiveness program, the administration has embarked on an alternative route to offer relief to student debt holders. More than 4 million individuals have already signed up for President Joe Biden’s new repayment program, known as SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education). This initiative aims to reduce their monthly financial burdens as student loan payments prepare to resume in October following a pandemic-related suspension that lasted for several years. The Biden administration has already implemented measures to simplify the process for numerous borrowers to pursue federal student loan forgiveness through various existing debt cancellation programs. To date, these efforts have resulted in the approval of approximately $116 billion in loan discharges benefiting more than 3.4 million individuals through August. Launched in the summer, the SAVE plan is accessible to most federal student loan recipients and offers substantial relief to those grappling with student debt. Similar to other income-driven repayment programs, SAVE assesses monthly payments based on a borrower’s income and family size, regardless of the total outstanding student debt.  For instance, if a single borrower earns $32,800 or less annually, or if a borrower with a family of four earns $67,500 or less, their monthly payments under SAVE can be as low as $0. This means that under the SAVE plan, individuals with lower incomes or larger families may have their monthly student loan payments reduced to zero, making it more manageable for them to handle their student debt. Notably, many of those who enrolled in SAVE were formerly part of a different repayment plan, REPAYE (Revised Pay As You Earn), and were transferred automatically. For borrowers who were not previously enrolled in REPAYE, applying for the SAVE plan is necessary. To date, over 1 million individuals have submitted applications, according to the Department of Education’s recent announcement.

Applicants will have the opportunity to apply continuously, but they are encouraged to do so promptly if they wish to be enrolled by the time payments become obligatory in October. As of September 1, interest has started accruing on federal student loans for the first time since March 2020 when interest rates were effectively set at 0%, and borrowers were exempt from monthly payments. Borrowers can expect to receive a bill from their loan servicer at least 21 days before their October payment deadline. Although President Biden’s proposal to cancel up to $20,000 in student loan debt for low- and middle-income borrowers before payments resumed was rejected by the Supreme Court in late June, the SAVE plan offers ongoing benefits to both current and future borrowers. This repayment plan was initially announced by the Biden administration in August and is estimated to cost $475 billion over the next decade, as per the Penn Wharton Budget Model.

JULIE KIM

US ASIA JOURNAL

The Chinese government will control exports of drone-related equipment from September. It is interpreted as a move conscious of the recent intensifying drone attack between Russia and Ukraine, and it is also analyzed that the Chinese government has taken one more regulatory step in the process of intensifying high-tech competition between the U.S. and China. According to Reuters, China’s Defense Ministry said it would start controlling exports of drone engines, lasers, communication equipment, and anti-drone systems from September 1, saying it was “to protect national security and interests.” The control measures apply not only to military drones but also to some consumer civilian drones. A spokesman for China’s Ministry of National Defense explained, “This is to prevent civilian drones from exporting for military purposes.”
There is room for interpretation that the Chinese government’s move is conscious of the recent “drone attack” between Russia and Ukraine. A Chinese government official told Reuters anonymously that “China has launched extensive drone control to fulfill its global security initiative and reveal its status as a “major responsible country” to maintain world peace.”

Earlier in April, China’s commerce ministry criticized the U.S. and Western media for spreading “groundless accusations” that they are exporting drones to the Ukrainian battlefield. In addition, this measure is analyzed as a process of spreading competition for high-tech technologies between the U.S. and China over semiconductor chips. China, which has been subject to high-tech semiconductor export control by the U.S., will immediately implement export restrictions on gallium and germanium, which are key materials for semiconductors and solar panels, from the 1st of next month. Companies seeking to export gallium and germanium must obtain permission from the State Council through China’s Commerce Department.In the meantime, the addition of drone export controls is expected to have a direct impact on the U.S. drone market. According to data released by the U.S. Congress, 50% of drones sold in the U.S. domestic market are Chinese company DJI products, Reuters said. “DJI is also the most commonly used drone in public institutions.”

EJ SONG

US ASIA JOURNAL

To this end, a warehouse capable of storing 2,000 tons of grain will be built in each unit area of the agricultural cooperative sector.
The government will also launch a committee composed of ministers and vice ministers from related departments to efficiently implement the plan. The committee is chaired by Amit Shah, Minister of Housing and Cooperation of the Central Government, and will be joined by departments related to agriculture, food, public allocation, and food processing.

Thakur called the plan the “world’s largest food storage program” and explained that increasing grain storage facilities as planned would reduce crop damage caused by shortages and allow farmers to sell grains at better prices.
He added that farmers in the past had no choice but to be satisfied with low prices as they rushed to sell harvested grains due to the often volatile climate.
Indian farmers hold a protest in the city of Amritsar, Punjab province, in the northwestern part of the country, demanding irrigation water from the state government on May 29, 2023.

He also expected that the plan would enhance India’s food security capabilities, reduce its dependence on imports and create employment opportunities in rural areas.In addition, it said that there will be a “win-win effect” on agricultural cooperatives, farmers and consumers, especially farmers, who can not only store their products in warehouses but also receive up to 70% of loans from cooperatives.There are currently about 65,000 agricultural cooperatives in India. India produces about 310 million tons of edible grains every year, but current warehouse facilities can only store up to 47% of the crop, according to media.Thakur said transportation costs caused by a shortage of grain storage facilities could also be greatly reduced, adding that warehouse facilities could also serve as grain procurement centers and grain processing facilities.

KS CHOI

US ASIA JOURNAL

In July, a somewhat shocking report was posted on “Tech Insight,” a semiconductor analysis agency. It was said that SMIC, China’s leading foundry (semiconductor consignment production) company, mass-produced SoC (System on Chip) made with 7-nano process and supplied it to Bitcoin mining companies in Canada. This report has made the White House quite nervous The U.S. blocked all high-tech ultraviolet (EUV) exposure equipment to China (manufactured by ASML, the Netherlands), but it was not something to let go of that SMIC succeeded in the 7-nano process over 10-nano process. In fact, it is an open secret in the semiconductor industry that Intel has not properly settled on the 7-nano process. What if Intel catches up with a Chinese company, not Samsung Electronics (005930), TSMC? It’s a really ‘horrible’ scenario for the United States. Last week, about three months after that, the Joe Biden administration really announced a regulation on exports of megaton class semiconductors to China”There was a technical loop where Huawei, a blacklist company, could just use semiconductors from foreign companies using U.S. technology This concept of “blocking exports of products from overseas companies using U.S. technology or software” was introduced in earnest at this time. It’s a very complicated and extensive case of U.S. export control. It’s also the regulation of Russia after the Ukrainian war that this model has been applied The U.S. announced regulations on exports of semiconductors to China on the 7th can be seen as a massive expansion of Huawei’s regulations two years ago. Until now, if the U.S. has regulated China’s emerging technology companies such as Huawei, ZTE, and SMIC, or the system semiconductor field of 10 nanometers or less to prevent the inflow of core technologies. Now we’ve created a very broad regulatory framework for the entire Chinese semiconductor industry Let’s take a look at the regulatory items announced this time.

▲ Dram under 18 nanometers ▲ 128-speed NAND flash ▲ 16-nano logic semiconductor with non-surface transistor structures such as pinpets or gaffets ▲ Export of logic semiconductor technology and production equipment under 14 nanometers is controlled Foreign Direct Production Regulations (FDPR), or “Huawei Regulations,” that control the export of products using U.S. technology and software, will be introduced in all directions in the sanctions If you look at this, you can clearly see the difference from before. The first is to block the inflow of all equipment necessary for high-tech semiconductor manufacturing into China as well as EUV exposure equipment, which is the core of semiconductor microprocessing.

Second, it is to expand not only system semiconductors but also memory semiconductors to be regulated. Third, if the technology developed in the U.S. is used, it will be controlled regardless of nationality. In the case of the Chinese semiconductor industry, the technology to renovate and recycle existing used equipment is very developed. There are also a lot of equipment that are used in common between DRAM, which is a real memory semiconductor, and logic, or system semiconductor process. This is why it prevents the influx of technology and equipment into leading memory semiconductor companies in China, such as Yangtze Memory It can be seen as sending a clear message to allies around the world, saying, “Now everyone join the public semiconductor war.” At least in the high-tech semiconductor field, it also seems to mean “Be prepared to close your business in China.” Korea and Taiwan should be most nervous Recently, there is a new book that draws attention from the U.S. media. It’s a book by American economic historian Chris Miller. The Chip War. Chip War. Like the title of this book, the gunless war over semiconductors, the “world’s most decisive technology,” has begun. Some analysts say that what should be noted in this situation is China rather than the United States. Will China’s semiconductor industry be able to survive in this U.S. omni-directional regulation? China’s so-called “semiconductor independence” could be another huge threat to us.

TED PARK

ASIA JOURNAL

Tokyo(Reuters)According to Reuters, Chris Murray, director of the Institute for Health Measurement Analysis (IHME) at the University of Washington Medical School, said, “Up to 1 million new confirmed cases could occur in the U.S. this winter.” He is a person who has been tracking the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reuters reported that Major General Head’s prediction violates expectations that the world will get out of COVID-19. Head predicted that the COVID-19 pandemic will hit once again in the U.S., the U.K., and all over Europe as more people spend time indoors in winter.

However, he predicted that severe patients or deaths will not occur as much as before. Director Murray said, “With the effective development of COVID-19 treatment, hospitalized patients or deaths will not occur as much as before,” adding, “The most high-risk group may be those who have never been exposed to the virus, but such people do not exist.”

(Source from Reuters/Alamy)Meanwhile, in recent weeks in Korea, Japan, and the United States, the number of new COVID-19 confirmed patients has turned to an increase. In Japan, 200,000 new confirmed cases are occurring every day. Experts say it is due to the spread of BA.5, an omicron sub-displacement accompanied by strong infectivity and immune avoidanceThe rapidly increasing number of new COVID-19 confirmed patients in Japan is lowering the approval rating of the Kishida Fumio Cabinet. In addition, voices in favor of using nuclear power generation are increasing at a time when power shortages are expected this winter.

Tokyo(Reuters)According to a poll conducted by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun from the 29th to the 31st of last month, the approval rating of the Kishida Cabinet was 58%, down 2 percentage points from the previous month. The Kishida Cabinet’s approval rating has been on the decline in June and July since hitting a record of 66 percent in May, and analysts say the worsening COVID-19 situation has affected it.
In this poll, 56 percent of the respondents said they were “evaluating” the Kishida Cabinet’s response to COVID-19, down 7 percentage points from last month. 36% of respondents said they were not evaluating (doing it wrong), up 6 percentage points from the previous month. Asked about what the Kishida Cabinet should deal with first, the “COVID-19 Measures” increased by 19 percentage points from the previous month to 35 percent. The number of new COVID-19 confirmed patients in Japan has continued to deteriorate this month, recording the world’s highest level with 233,000 on the 28th of last month. Analysts say that Japan’s COVID-19 confirmed patients went through the 6th wave (the 6th epidemic) in January-March this year and stabilized to some extent in May-June, but turned to the 7th wave from last month. The recent surge in confirmed cases in Japan is attributed to the gradual lowering of the immune effect of tertiary vaccination at a time when BA.5, which is highly infectious, is spreading. Meanwhile, while Japan is expected to suffer from electricity shortages this winter, 51 percent said it was “reasonable” and 19 percent said it should “run more” on the government’s policy of operating up to nine nuclear power plants to overcome it.

The direction of Yoon Seok-yeol’s government, which is the private-market-led growth and labor, education, and pension system reform, is a task that our society has long neglected. It was launched amid a combination of supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, and chose the orthodox method as a solution. The goal is to abandon policies that have sealed the crisis by giving taxes and turn the country’s direction even if the pace is slow. The key is ‘private-led’ growth. Moon Jae In In order to correct the side effects of the government’s excessive fiscal expenditure, the government will change the economic system led by the private and market and push for drastic reforms. Regulatory improvement is a representative task, such as changing the old system that blocks private innovation and new businesses and removing customary shadow regulations that are not based on laws.The problem is that the government is being hit by the power of state affairs without properly starting policies with positive intentions. The new government, less than 100 days after its launch, has faced concerns over public sentiment. The president’s support for the implementation of state affairs, which fell to the early 30 percent level, is not due to special policy misconduct, and the president’s aides are also frustrated. Still, the basic perception is that they will work only for the people, not for joy and joy at the approval rating. This is the context of President Yoon’s remarks earlier this month that “the approval rating is meaningless.”

JENNIFER KIM

ASIA JOURNAL

From May 18 to May 20, “2022 K-Format Showcase at LA Screening” and “Business Counseling” were held to enter the U.S. market for Korean broadcasting formats.

Currently, director Bong Joon-ho’s various works have recently been increasingly interested in Korean cultural contents from around the world due to Parasite and actress Yoon Yeo-jung’s Minari In the past, however, there were no various ways to approach it.

There were only ways to watch simple making videos or introductory videos on YouTube.

People were interested, but there were problems such as poor accessibility. American dramas were very accessible to people from various countries because there were many famous and various companies that started in the United States. Therefore, there were cases where people who were not interested were also exposed in various ways. However, interest in Korean cultural contents is increasing. One of them is a drama called pachinko which is served in the United States. OTT company made it and distributed it. Although it was made in the U.S., most of the actors are Korean, and Yoon Yeo-jung is also in the drama.

People have been covered by China and Japan as a country in Asia, attracting attention with content in countries where people were not familiar with.

All the more important is the actions and policies at this time. That’s why the Korea Creative Content Agency prepared this showcase.

This is not the first time this year. This year, offline events will be held three years after the pandemic.

There are already many successful contents after the Korea Creative Content Agency introduced them to the U.S. or overseas markets in the past and remade them in each country, especially MBC’s “King of Mask Singer.” It has already been a huge success in the United States, and very famous pop stars, actors, and athletes have come out to show various pleasures to viewers.

Also, the entertainment show “I can see your voice” of Mnet broadcasting station was very popular in Korea introduced abroad as a springboard for it

It has achieved great results in sales remakes in 18 countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Russia, Belgium, Spain, Canada and Thailand, especially in Europe. The remake of “I Can See Your Voice” in the UK recorded a maximum viewing share of 28.1%.

Korea Creative Content Agency effectively introduced Korean broadcasting contents through online and offline support, such as collaborating with the U.S. Business Center located in LA to conduct an “online showcase” in advance and operating an “offline counseling booth” during the event.

In addition, the five companies that participated in the event achieved $2.5 million worth of consultation results related to entering North America and Latin America through more than 100 business consultations.

At the event, SBS drama “Stairway to Heaven” received particular attention from South American buyers, who signed a Spanish version remake contract with NBC Universal’s Telemundo, one of the largest Spanish channels in the United States, and will be broadcast throughout the United States and distributed worldwide.

MBC’s “King of Mask Singer,” which has already proven the power of K-Format around the world, has still received keen attention at the event. MBC said that it is currently planning a Bolivian version of the broadcast, and that it is also planning a global version in which Craig Plestis, the producer of the American version of The Masked Singer, and performers from various countries gather together to compete.

Furthermore, the KBS drama “People,” which was introduced to the U.S. market through the 2019 “K-Format Screening in US,” signed a remake contract with 20th Century Studios under the title “The Company You Keep,” drawing keen attention from industry officials. The film is highly anticipated, with director Jon M. Chu of “Crazy Rich Asian” and producer Lindsay Goffman participating in the production, while Milo Ventimiglia, the main character of the popular drama “This Is Us,” cast as the male lead.

Currently, Korea Creative Content Agency is not just helping exports to dramas, but also introducing them to foreign countries for various entertainment shows.

Korea Creative Content Agency One, who hosted this year’s event, said, “We were able to feel the great interest in Korean broadcasting formats again by hosting the LA screening event,” adding, “We hope that K-broadcasting formats will actively enter South America beyond the U.S. market, and follow-up support will be closely continued through the U.S. business center.”

SOPHIA KIM

Asia Journal 

The “Global Traffic Scoreboard” study was published by Inrix, which dubs itself the world leader in transportation analytics. It examined 1,064 cities across 38 countries in one of the largest traffic studies ever conducted.

Inrix found that 11 of the top 25 cities worldwide with the worst traffic congestion were in the US.

Los Angeles took the top spot for the most congested city, with drivers spending 104 hours in traffic last year during peak times.

Moscow came second (91 hours), followed by New York City (89), San Francisco (83), Bogota, Colombia (80), Sao Paulo (77), London (73), Atlanta (71), Paris (65) and Bangkok (64).