LG Uplus partners with WRTN to enhance AI service

Lee Jae-won, left, head of LG Uplus' Consumer Division, and WRTN founder and CEO Lee Se-young pose in Seoul, Wednesday after signing a memorandum of understanding at LG Uplus headquarters. Courtesy of LG Uplus

LG Uplus has partnered with AI startup WRTN Technologies to enhance its AI services for customers.

The telecom provider announced, Thursday, that the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding, Wednesday, to advance LG Uplus’ AI service and improve its usability. The signing ceremony took place at the company's headquarters in Yongsan, Seoul.

“Our goal is to make it easier for customers to utilize AI technology in their everyday lives,” Lee Jae-won, head of LG Uplus's Consumer Division said. “We will continue to work alongside a diverse array of partners in the technology sector to introduce innovative AI experiences.”

WRTN is a Seoul-based generative AI startup that offers personalized AI chatbots, AI character chat services and open-source-based AI agent solutions. The rapidly growing company surpassed 5 million monthly active users in October last year, just about two years after launching its chat-based AI service. This growth outpaced that of other major platform services in Korea, including the banking app Toss.

Through the partnership, the two companies plan to ensure their services are more easily and efficiently accessible to customers in everyday life. LG Uplus intends to expand its AI agent ixi-O by integrating WRTN's services, allowing customers to experience the benefits of AI firsthand.

“This partnership is significant in that it represents an action-oriented alliance between an AI startup and a telecom company,” said Lee Se-young, CEO of WRTN.

“We will strive to make WRTN's practical AI solutions more accessible and convenient for customers to use in their everyday lives.”

Meanwhile, LG Uplus has been actively collaborating with various AI startups to strengthen its position within the broader AI ecosystem. Notably, last year, the company launched Shift, an open innovation program that selects eight startups to collaborate on AI-related initiatives.