SK Telecom accelerates AI push via alliance with more partners

SK Telecom Co., South Korea’s top mobile carrier, is ramping up its artificial intelligence push by bringing more domestic partners into its AI alliance to better compete with global Big Tech companies.

Last week, the K-AI Alliance, an SK Telecom-led Korean AI group, held Unite 2024, its annual gathering, in Silicon Valley, California, where the telecom company said it is opening its alliance wider to attract more domestic AI companies into its fold.

The alliance launched in February 2023 was led by SK Telecom in partnership with seven AI startups: Phantom AI, Sapeon, Bespin Global, Moloco, Konan Technology, Sweet Technologies and Tuat.

At this year’s Unite event, the alliance welcomed two new Korean members — GPU and AI computing platform operator Lablup and media-centered AI firm XL8 — raising the ranks of its member companies to 18.

“You alone cannot keep up with the pace of AI innovation. Cooperation is essential to survival in this field. With our strengthened alliance, we will show the world the strength of Korean AI power,” said SK Telecom CEO Ryu Young-sang.

TRANSITION FROM TELCO TO AI FIRM

SK Telecom is striving to transform into an AI company from a mobile carrier.

In July 2023, the company joined forces with three global peers to launch a global AI group, the Global Telco AI Alliance (GTAA). The global partners are Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. (SingTel), Deutsche Telekom and the United Arab Emirates’ e&.

The alliance, boasting a combined user base of 1.3 billion people, grew bigger this February when it was joined by Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp.

The five partners recently set up a joint venture to develop a large language model (LLM) tailored to the needs of telecom companies.

The companies plan to create multinational LLMs that support diverse languages starting with English, Korean, Japanese, German and Arabic.

Only a few years ago, SK Telecom was pursuing AI technology development in-house. Recently, it revised its policy to develop through partnerships with other AI firms.

“SK has seen the limitations of fostering its AI business alone,” said an industry official.

Write to Ji-Eun Jeong at jeong@hankyung.com
In-Soo Nam edited this article.