Korean Tech Firms Collaborate in Reinforcing AI Capabilities

A coalition involving KT, LG Electronics, and LG Uplus will create an open innovation platform called "AI One Team" to bring AI technologies a higher level.

The members also plan to seek new business opportunities by exchanging AI technologies and compatible solutions.

The three tech companies have invited other entities to join the group, including the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute of the ICT Ministry, Hanyang University, Korea Advanced Institute of Technology, and Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings.

KT is expected to provide its self-developed AI engines for conversation, foreign language translation, customer consultation, text-to-speech, speech-to-text, keyword spotting, and a nationwide 5G network.

The main role of LG Electronics is to develop new solutions for a variety of consumer electronics by utilizing KT's infrastructure and AI engines.

KT's AI speaker GiGA Genie may be integrated into LG's ThinQ smart home appliances currently joined by foreign AI giants like Google and Amazon.

Using KT's global pandemic prevention platform, the three firms could cooperate on an AI-powered solution that could predict and counter pandemics like COVID-19.

The other coalition being formed among tech firms in South Korea under the government's initiative to make the country an AI powerhouse involves SKT, Samsung, and Kakao.

The latter three firms will focus on making their own voice-activated AI speaker and related platforms compatible.

As part of the looming collaboration, SKT and Kakao had tied-up through a 300 billion won equity exchange in October.