SKT A. Dot, an 'AI Friend' Capable of Everyday Conversations

Android Open Beta Version Released
CEO Yoo Sang-yang: "Warm Technology, Service Development Through Customer Participation"
Data Tracking via Conversations Based on Large Language Models
Processing User-Desired Tasks, New Features Added in Second Half of Year

The SKT model is introducing 'A.Dot'.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] "A.dot is warm technology aimed at people in the era of artificial intelligence (AI)."

Yoo Young-sang, CEO of SK Telecom, introduced the growth-type AI service ‘A.dot (A.)’ released on the 16th by saying this, and stated, "It will develop into a valuable service through customer participation." On the same day, SKT released the Android open beta version of A.dot on One Store and Google Play Store. The core value of A.dot is to evolve into a personalized service that connects humans and technology, and furthermore humans to humans, through close relationships with customers. The ‘A’ in the A.dot brand represents the AI flagship brand and also embodies the will to provide customers with ‘Art’-level services that offer amazing experiences and inspiration never seen before in the world.

A Digital Mate for Everyday Life

SK Telecom combined everyday conversations and the handling of specific tasks requested by customers naturally in A.dot, based on the large language model (GPT-3). GPT-3 is characterized by an expanded AI model scale compared to the previous GPT-2, making it the highest-performing AI conversational language model currently available. Users can engage in daily conversations and then play content or use destination navigation services. SKT developed a Korean-specialized version of the large language model on its own.

The basic philosophy of A.dot is that customers should spend their limited time on more valuable matters. It handles cumbersome actions on behalf of users, recommends and plays things they might like. When users are unsure what to watch on over-the-top (OTT) video services, want to add songs or podcasts matching their tastes to a playlist, or need to register and frequently check their schedules on a calendar, they can utilize A.dot.

The One and Only AI Friend in the World

Users who install the ‘A.dot’ application (app) can set their interests, music and video preferences, character appearance, voice, and name to create an AI service with a unique character that knows them well. It is linked with Flo and Wave, and offers various daily life services such as calendar, calls, and text messages. Music and video services are available free of charge for up to 90 songs, movies, and overseas series per month through a limited-time promotion at launch. Through the user-participatory ‘Cupid’ service, users can receive answers based on responses provided by other users to questions that AI cannot answer. For example, if someone asks, "Do you know a good red bean bread place near Sangdo-dong?" the service matches the user with the best answer provider and requests a response.

The A.dot open beta service is available to Android smartphone users regardless of their carrier. SKT offers free data necessary to use the A.dot service to its customers as a launch promotion.

SK Telecom plans to evolve A.dot while conducting the open beta service. They intend to reflect user feedback faster and more actively than any other service to improve it. In the second half of the year, A.dot will add new features such as ‘My TV,’ a personalized TV that automatically plays content users might like, as well as games and English learning.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.