This momentous agreement – signed in a ceremony at SK Seorin Building, Seoul – marks the culmination of discussions initiated by the Global Telco AI Alliance, a consortium launched in July 2023 by SK Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, E&, and Singtel.

This innovative partnership aims to create a telco-specific LLM that empowers global telcos to effortlessly and rapidly construct generative AI models. With a focus on multilingual capabilities (including German, English, and Korean), this LLM is designed to enhance customer services—particularly in areas like AI-powered contact centres.

Claudia Nemat, Member of the Board of Management for Technology and Innovation at Deutsche Telekom, said:

“AI shows impressive potential to significantly enhance human problem-solving capabilities.

To maximise its use, especially in customer service, we need to adapt existing large language models and train them with our unique data. This will elevate our generative AI tools.”

The collaboration also involves key AI industry players, such as Anthropic (Claude 2) and Meta (Llama2), enabling the co-development of a sophisticated LLM.

Anticipated to debut in the first quarter of 2024, the new telco-focused LLM will offer a deeper understanding of telecommunication service-related areas and customer intentions that surpass the capabilities of general LLMs.

One of the primary objectives of this collaboration is to assist telcos worldwide in developing flexible generative AI services, including AI agents. By streamlining the process of building AI-driven solutions like contact centres, telcos can save time and costs and open new avenues for business growth and innovation.

Ryu Young-sang, CEO of SK Telecom, commented:

“Through our partnership with Deutsche Telekom, we have secured a strong opportunity and momentum to gain global AI leadership and drive new growth.

By combining the strengths and capabilities of the two companies in AI technology, platform, and infrastructure, we expect to empower enterprises in many different industries to deliver new and higher value to their customers.”

This collaboration signifies a proactive response to the escalating demand for AI solutions within the telco industry, promising a paradigm shift in the traditional telecommunications landscape. The announcement follows SK Telecom’s $100 million investment in Anthropic in August.

See also: UMG files landmark lawsuit against AI developer Anthropic

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The company recently held a meeting at its Silicon Valley headquarters with CEOs from four new AI partners – CMES, MakinaRocks, Scatter Lab, and FriendliAI – to discuss business cooperation and forge a path towards leadership in the AI industry.

SKT has been actively promoting AI transformation through strategic partnerships and collaborations with various AI companies. During MWC 2023, the company announced partnerships with seven AI companies: SAPEON, Bespin Global, Moloco, Konan Technology, Swit, Phantom AI, and Tuat.

During the meeting, SKT’s CEO Ryu Young-sang outlined the company’s AI vision and discussed its business plans with the AI partners. The executives from SKT and its AI partners engaged in in-depth discussions on major global AI trends, the latest technological achievements, ongoing R&D projects, and global business and investment opportunities.

One of the notable discussions took place between SKT and CMES, an AI-powered robotics company.

SKT and CMES exchanged views and ideas on the development of pricing plans for “Robot as a Service (RaaS)” and subscription-based business models for AI-driven RaaS tailored for enterprises.

RaaS is gaining attention as a cost-effective alternative to additional manpower or infrastructure investment for automation. The demand for RaaS is expected to grow rapidly in sectors such as logistics, delivery, construction, and healthcare.

Furthermore, SKT aims to collaborate with Scatter Lab, a renowned AI startup known for its Lee Lu-da chatbot. The company plans to integrate an emotional AI agent into its AI service, ‘A.’

Additionally, SKT discussed strategies for synergy creation with MakinaRocks, a startup specialising in industrial AI solutions, and FriendliAI, a startup that provides a platform for developing generative AI models. By joining forces, the companies aim to establish a leading position in the global AI market.

Ryu Young-sang, CEO of SKT, commented:

“Now with our AI partners on board, we have completed the blueprint for driving new growth in the global market.

We will work together to develop diverse cooperation opportunities in AI, and bring our AI technologies and services to the global market.”

By harnessing the expertise and technologies of its AI partners, SKT is well-positioned to lead the global AI ecosystem and deliver innovative AI solutions to the market.

(Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash)

Want to learn more about AI and big data from industry leaders? Check out AI & Big Data Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The event is co-located with Digital Transformation Week.

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