SK Telecom, a leading South Korean telecommunications company, recently announced a major overhaul of its AI service called ‘A.’ The aim of this upgrade is to provide an enhanced user experience and allow customers to enjoy various content based on their personal tastes and preferences. ‘A.’ has been redesigned with several new features, including the addition of AI agents capable of taking on diverse personas.
One of the key improvements is the user interface (UI) on the main screen of ‘A.’ Users can now view different content on a single screen, tailored to their unique preferences. This makes it easier for customers to access the content they enjoy most without having to navigate through various menus.
In addition to the UI improvements, SK Telecom has added a chatroom feature to ‘A.’, enabling users to engage in conversations with an AI character. These conversations simulate talking to a close friend and provide a platform for users to share information about their daily lives. It adds a personal touch to the AI service and creates a more interactive experience.
To enhance the intelligence of ‘A.’, SK Telecom has integrated ‘Chat T’, which utilizes the ChatGPT model from Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI service. Users can ask ‘Chat T’ questions and receive detailed and informative responses. This feature goes beyond simple answers and enables users to engage in more in-depth conversations with the AI.
Furthermore, SK Telecom has upgraded its own Large Language Model (LLM) to allow for multi-turn dialogues. The model can now understand the context of a conversation and grasp complex intentions, resulting in more logical and useful interactions. This upgrade significantly enhances the AI service’s ability to engage in meaningful conversations with users.
As part of a joint development project with Scatter Lab, an AI startup known for its chatbot Lee Lu-da, SK Telecom has introduced new AI agents called ‘A. friends’. These agents have conversational AI technology that enables emotional and human-like conversations. Users can engage in conversations with ‘A. friends’ and receive counseling and advice on a wide variety of topics. The feature is currently available on Android, with the iOS version set to be released at the end of July.
In addition, SK Telecom has lowered the age limit for signing up for ‘A.’ to allow customers under the age of 14 to join the service. This change ensures that more customers, including younger users, can experience generative AI and benefit from the enhanced features and functionalities of the AI service.
With the massive overhaul of ‘A.’, we expect more customers to feel comfortable and enjoy using our conversational AI, said Kim Yong-hun, Vice President and Head of AI Service Business Office at SK Telecom. The company aims to continue evolving ‘A.’ into a service that can assist customers in various aspects of their daily lives.
SK Telecom’s advancements in AI are revolutionizing the telecommunications industry. By leveraging technologies like ChatGPT and enhancing their own language models, SK Telecom is able to provide a more personalized and interactive AI service. The introduction of AI agents with diverse personas, emotional conversations, and counseling capabilities further expands the possibilities of conversational AI. These innovations not only improve the user experience but also demonstrate the potential of AI in transforming how we interact with technology.
To learn more about the transformative effects of AI in the telecoms world, industry professionals can join the discussion at this year’s Total Telecom Congress, which will take place live in Amsterdam. Here, experts from various operators will share insights and perspectives on the latest advancements and trends in the telecom industry.
