'Reelection Challenge' KT CEO Koo Hyun-mo: "Building a Digital Powerhouse with Supermassive AI"

KT Unveils 'AI 3 Major Development Strategies' to Expand Growth Base
Proposes Commercialization of Super-large AI, AI Infrastructure Innovation, and AI Future Talent Development
Optimizes Logistics Industry with Three AI Logistics Platforms, Reduces Carbon Emissions by 20%
Enhances Industrial Competitiveness through Commercialization of Super-large AI

On the 16th, at a press conference held at Sofitel Ambassador Seoul, KT CEO Koo Hyun-mo is announcing the AI development strategy.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] "We will enhance South Korea's DX competitiveness centered on the next-generation artificial intelligence (AI), known as super-large AI."

On the 16th, KT CEO Koo Hyun-mo made this statement while announcing the 'AI Development Strategy' at a press conference held at Sofitel Ambassador Seoul in Songpa-gu, Seoul. CEO Koo emphasized, "AI will become the competitive edge of our country's industry," adding, "Since existing AI has already shown limitations in performance, scalability, and cost, there is a need for super-large AI that can implement universal, customized, and creative learning and functions." KT plans to commercialize its self-developed super-large AI 'MIDEUM' and use it as a means of innovation to overcome industry challenges.

To this end, KT is accelerating the activation of the AI ecosystem. CEO Koo explained, "Both hardware and software must be considered," and added, "NVIDIA occupies 80% of the entire GPU industry, so hardware innovation such as developing AI-dedicated chips is necessary." KT has made strategic investments in AI startups such as Rebellion (AI semiconductor design) and More (AI infrastructure solutions). Algorithms are also being researched through the AI One Team. KT has set a goal to complete a Korean-style AI semiconductor with more than three times the efficiency of existing ones by next year. KT is also focusing on nurturing future talent. CEO Koo stated, "Ultimately, people, especially internal talent development, are the most important." Through KT's recruitment-linked education program 'Able School,' about 5,000 digital talents will be intensively trained over the next five years. Additionally, KT is developing Korea's first AI practical skills certification exam, 'AICE,' to foster AI talent.

Promoting Three Major AI Digital Transformation Projects in Logistics, Consultation, and Healthcare

KT has identified logistics as a field to drive digital innovation using AI. KT expects that optimizing freight truck operations with AI could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from road freight transport by up to 20%. Leading the digitalization of South Korea's logistics, KT utilizes three AI logistics platforms?AI freight brokerage and transportation, AI transportation, and AI fulfillment?in partnership with RollLab, a digital logistics specialist company. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the size of South Korea's logistics market was approximately 92 trillion won in 2019. KT anticipates AI logistics innovation is possible in a market worth about 16.7 trillion won. With phased AI transformation, KT aims to achieve approximately 500 billion won in sales by 2025.

KT also revealed plans to innovate AI Contact Center (AICC) services evolving through super-large AI. Next month, KT will launch the smart cloud contact center 'KT Aisen Cloud,' which allows corporate customers to easily self-register, build, and consult with AICC. When Aisen Cloud is introduced in industries such as finance, insurance, cards, and commerce, it is expected to improve consultation quality by 10%, reduce operating costs by 15%, and cut setup costs by 30%.

In the healthcare sector, KT will actively promote the 'Global Medical DX' project, including health screening centers and telemedicine, based on accumulated data fusion capabilities and AI technology competitiveness. According to global market research firm Statista, the global telemedicine market is expected to grow to $460 billion (approximately 608 trillion won) by 2030. KT plans to implement personalized healthcare using data secured from the medical AI business and expand the medical DX business. At this event, KT also unveiled for the first time its medical AI solution that analyzes ultrasound images with AI to automatically classify thyroid nodules and predict risk by determining benign or malignant status.

Enhancing Industrial Competitiveness through Commercialization of Super-large AI

The super-large AI 'MIDEUM' possesses 'collaborative fusion intelligence' that can easily learn various application cases. 'MIDEUM' aims to be an AI that understands emotions and empathizes with humans. It can interpret user intentions even with a small amount of data and can change tone or voice according to the situation. It strives for 'conversations closer to humans' by remembering and utilizing previous dialogues. KT showcased AI specialized consultation and AI emotional care services as examples utilizing these features of 'MIDEUM' for the first time.

AI specialized consultation goes beyond simple inquiries by learning vast knowledge in specialized fields and providing professional consultation through various technologies. KT demonstrated the 'Dr. Oh Eun-young AI Parenting Consultation Service,' which allows users to consult with AI Dr. Oh Eun-young using Genie TV's voice conversation feature. AI emotional care is a service where AI remembers past conversations with senior customers and recognizes their situations such as favorite places or hobbies to engage in emotional conversations. If AI detects abnormalities in the customer's health, it initiates conversation and summarizes the situation and dialogue to relay to caregivers or related institutions.

KT also introduced 'MIDEUM LETS,' a specialized tool that creates customized super-large AI models for corporate customers (B2B). KT plans to build an open ecosystem for super-large AI centered on the open portal 'Genie Labs,' which provides APIs to startups and domestic and international partners, and the industry-academia-research cooperation group 'AI One Team.'

CEO Koo said, "AI is being applied deeply to all industries in a shorter time than expected, creating added value, leading digital transformation, and changing the flow of the global economy," adding, "KT will devote all available capabilities to ensure South Korea achieves world-class digital competitiveness centered on super-large AI, infrastructure innovation, and talent development."

Meanwhile, CEO Koo, who expressed his intention to renew his term, said, "'Digico (digital platform company)' strategy has brought many changes to KT, but the key question is whether these changes can be sustained," adding, "From the perspective of structural change and the ability to create new businesses and transform into a new type of business operator, I have not yet judged that structural and sustainability have been secured." He continued, "Overseas shareholders evaluate KT not as a simple telecom company but as a role model that telecom companies worldwide should follow," and said, "KT is creating a new industrial model leading digital transformation based on telecommunications, so firmly establishing this foundation is the task ahead."

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