Korean firms unveil plans for gov't-led AI project

Three major South Korean telecommunications companies - SK Telecom, KT Corp., and Kakao Corp. - have unveiled their strategies for a government-backed artificial intelligence (AI) project aimed at making AI services accessible to all citizens. The announcement was made during a press conference in Seoul, with leaders from each company present, including SK Telecom CEO Jeong Jai-hun, KT CEO Park Yun-yeong, and Kakao CEO Chung Shin-a.

The decision to greenlight these projects was made by the science ministry last month, as part of the government's "AI for all" initiative. This campaign seeks to enhance public access to AI models, with a particular emphasis on utilizing domestic AI technologies in at least half of each system's functionality. To support these efforts, the government has allocated a budget of 250 billion won ($184.6 million) for the "AI for all" initiative in the upcoming fiscal year.

The primary objective of this project is to embed new, locally developed AI services seamlessly into everyday life. By fostering a domestic AI ecosystem, the government hopes to bolster the nation's technological prowess while simultaneously improving the everyday lives of its citizens.