Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
SK chairman vows to nurture AI ecosystem
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, front row third from right, and SK Telecom CEO Ryu Young-sang, right, listen to an explanation about AI technology at SK Telecom's booth during the MWC event in Barcelona, Monday (local time). Courtesy of SK Telecom
By Baek Byung-yeul
By Baek Byung-yeul
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won said in Barcelona, Monday (local time) that he will work on nurturing Korea's artificial intelligence (AI) industry ecosystem, saying the emerging technology can create more value when it is combined with other fields of industry.
“SK Telecom is switching from a telecommunications company to an AI company. We will try to contribute to the people and society by converging the technologies we have developed so far with other areas,” the chairman told reporters when he visited SK Telecom's booth during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) tech show in the Spanish city.
The chairman participated for the first time in the MWC, one of the world's largest tech shows, and encouraged employees working in the global ICT market. He also held meetings with CEOs from some prominent companies to discuss cooperation measures in the field of AI.
SK Group said the chairman visited domestic and overseas companies' exhibition halls at the event to learn about the latest tech trends such as AI services, robots and sixth-generation (6G) mobile network technology.
“I think AI technology can contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions,” Chey added after taking a look at SK Telecom's LITMUS service, an AI-based location analysis platform.
SK Telecom has been commercializing AI-based services in Korea to precisely measure the amount of traffic on the roads. By providing data collected through the service to the police or government offices, the company expects it can contribute to the reduction of traffic congestion.
Chey also listened to the service descriptions of officials from the seven companies participating in the “K-AI alliance” with SK Telecom and vowed he will support them to nurture the country's AI ecosystem. AI startups such as Phantom AI, Moloco, Konan Technology and Tuat are joining the alliance.
When asked how ICT can be combined with the World Expo 2030, an international event that the Korean city of Busan is lobbying to host, Chey said, “The Busan Expo is more important to show how these advanced technologies can practically solve human problems rather than just showing off technologies.”
Chey, who also serves as chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), is working as a co-chair of the Bid Committee for World Expo 2030 Busan. “We need more warm-hearted technologies related to the environment and digital sectors,” he said.
After his stay in Barcelona, the chairman will visit Madrid, Lisbon and Copenhagen. As a presidential envoy, he plans to meet with government officials such as prime ministers from each country to seek their support for Busan's Expo bid.