"SK Telecom has many senior customers who have used its services for over 10 years. As the voice communication market shifts from wireless data to AI, we will create easy-to-use AI services so that these customers are not left behind."
Kim Ji-hoon, Head of AI Business Division at SK Telecom, emphasized on the morning of the 14th during an interview on the 'AI for All' project held at SKT Tower in Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, that "calls and text messages are the charm of telecommunications companies." He added, "We will create AI services in familiar forms using methods we excel at, ensuring existing customers are not left behind."
'AI for All' is a project positioned at the forefront of the Lee Jae-myung administration's AI policy. The initiative aims to reduce social disparities caused by AI by enabling all citizens to use AI as easily as arithmetic or Hangul.
The head of division stated, "Elderly people currently find taxi apps difficult and cannot hail taxis. By calling a 'special-purpose number (teukbeon),' our AI will respond and call a taxi for them." He noted that SKT has signed MOUs with 11 companies, including T-money Mobility and Hana Bank, to implement this. Including the existing consortium of 20 companies, SKT now collaborates with a total of 31 enterprises and institutional investors, establishing a powerful AI service ecosystem.
The head of division also highlighted that caring for young people is a differentiating point of SKT's 'AI for All.' He explained, "While the government provides electricity bill subsidies to youth preparing for independence, many are unaware of the system and the funds are returned to the national treasury." He emphasized, "If public services currently require individuals to apply directly, we aim to make them easy to understand and use by adopting a proactive approach where we reach out to them."
There are two main methods for AI execution. One involves users making calls through the aforementioned 'special-purpose number' to activate AI, while the other allows an agent to place calls on behalf of users when they need to inquire about a specific location or person.
SKT is also considering integrating its proprietary 'AI Foundation Model (Dokpa-mo)' currently under development and the 'AI for All' service into a single 'A-dot' service.
The head of division stated, "Since Dokpa-mo is an AI model and AI for All is a service, there will be synergy between the two projects." He added, "We are also considering evolving into a super-app form that effectively utilizes the A-dot model to encompass services as well."
He further emphasized that building an organic ecosystem together with partner companies is more important than having a single app succeed. This is why Hashed Ventures was included in SKT's 'AI for All' consortium and why SKT recently signed an MOU with AlToss Ventures. The AI services discovered by these partners will expand the ecosystem on top of the platform provided by SKT, creating reasons for customers to return. Accordingly, this year's service development will focus on reusability rates, while next year's efforts will prioritize execution completion rates.
The head of division stated, "This year, customer reusability is more important than the MAU (monthly active users) target of 5 million, and next year, whether AI agents successfully execute customer commands will become crucial." He announced that a closed beta service will be launched in mid-October, followed by the commercial launch of services tailored to national expectations by year-end.
in TECH
