SK Telecom Co. has started testing an artificial intelligence (AI) program that it developed with Seoul National University College of Medicine that can detect dementia by listening to patients' speech.
The program is being tested at major hospitals and the country's dementia centers.
According to SK Telecom, the AI program analyzes if there is speech unique to dementia patients to identify those afflicted with the disease.
The program is being developed as an online application for easy access, allowing patients to do away with visiting hospitals or medical facilities.
Cases of dementia are on the rise in South Korea and are expected to reach 1.36 million in 2030 from 788,000 in 2019, based on data by the National Institute of Dementia.
SK Telecom would add additional features to the AI program, such as facial recognition.