SK Telecom (SKT), KT, Kakao, and Eastsoft have announced distinct service strategies as they join the Ministry of Science and ICT's 'Everyone's AI' project. These companies plan to combine existing services in telecommunications, messaging, and portals with specialized offerings in finance, healthcare, and education, while collaborating with domestic AI firms to advance the nationwide AI initiative.
On August 19, the Ministry reported that six companies, including SKT, KT, Kakao, and Eastsoft, submitted proposals to participate in the Everyone's AI project.
The participating consortiums aim to leverage their established user bases as entry points for AI services. SKT and KT will focus on telecommunications services, while Kakao and LG's alliance will utilize KakaoTalk, and Eastsoft will promote its portal Zum.
SKT plans to utilize its experience operating the AI service 'A.' with 10 million monthly active users. The company intends to introduce an AI chatbot that offers conversation, search, summarization, and document and image analysis, eventually evolving into an AI agent that can fulfill user requests. The goal is for the AI to handle public service inquiries, applications, and certificate issuance, as well as reservations, applications, and payments in healthcare, transportation, finance, and education sectors.
KT will build AI services based on its telecommunications and cloud infrastructure, ensuring a stable environment for users to access these services.
Kakao will combine its user engagement from KakaoTalk and significant traffic with its own AI model 'Kanana' and the 'AI National Secretary' developed in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
Eastsoft will connect its generative service 'Perso AI' and agent-based AI 'Alan' with over 30 million user touchpoints gained through Altools, Alyac, and Zum.
Each consortium possesses unique consumer touchpoints, making it difficult to determine a clear leader. The key will be collaboration with specialized companies.
SKT is developing financial and payment services with Shinhan Card and Hana Card, transportation services with Tmap Mobility, and educational services with Ellice Group. Healthcare and wellness services will be handled by GoodDoc and Soundable Health. KT is also partnering with Daum, Musinsa, Zigbang, Masspresso, EBS, and BC Card to expand AI services into search, shopping, housing, education, and finance.
Kakao is working with Seoul National University Hospital, Lunit, Shinhan Bank, and Wonderful Platform to develop services in healthcare, finance, and caregiving. Eastsoft plans to implement an AI search agent based on its experience in search, news, and content management through the Zum portal, and integrate AI into Alyac and Altools.
In the AI model and infrastructure sector, inter-company collaborations are becoming more pronounced. Companies that previously competed in the independent AI foundation model project are now participating in the same consortium for Everyone's AI or partnering with other platform providers, reshaping the competitive landscape.
The KT consortium includes Upstage and Motif Technologies, which participated in the independent AI foundation model project. NC AI and Action Power are also involved in the AI model and platform sector, while Level Up, Rebellion, and Vessel AI Korea are responsible for AI infrastructure.
The Kakao consortium has four LG affiliates as key participants. LG Uplus will handle large-scale user environment testing and quality verification, while LG AI Research will provide its own AI model 'K-EXAONE.' LG Electronics will connect devices in living spaces, and LG CNS will support public system and data integration and system consolidation.
SKT is adopting a 'full-stack' strategy that utilizes its own AI models, infrastructure, and services. The company plans to enhance service competitiveness by integrating specialized search from Liner and public data capabilities from Persona AI.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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