Seoul: Three major South Korean consortia, led by SK Telecom Co., KT Corp., and Kakao Corp., have unveiled their strategic plans for a government-led initiative aimed at developing accessible artificial intelligence (AI) services. These blueprints were presented at a press event in central Seoul, attended by SK Telecom CEO Jeong Jai-hun, KT CEO Park Yun-yeong, and Kakao CEO Chung Shin-a.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the presentations followed the selection of these three teams by the science ministry last month to spearhead the "AI for all" initiative. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance public access to AI models. The initiative requires developers to integrate domestic AI models in at least 50 percent of their systems, supported by government funding and graphics processing unit (GPU) resources.

A substantial budget of 250 billion won (approximately US$184.6 million) has been allocated for the "AI for all" initiative in the science ministry's budget proposal for the upcoming year. Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon emphasized the project's ultimate goal: embedding innovative, homegrown AI services into the daily lives of citizens. He urged the participating companies to collaborate effectively to launch these services by the year's end, thereby enhancing daily convenience and fostering a burgeoning domestic AI market.

During the event, Kakao's consortium announced plans to introduce a universal chatbot and an AI agent dedicated to public services, utilizing its Kanana AI model alongside LG AI research's Exaone AI model. Kakao CEO Chung revealed aspirations to reach 5 million monthly users by December, with an ambitious target of expanding to 30 million by 2030.

KT's team showcased a real-time search-based AI agent and a platform that connects ten specialized AI services, covering sectors such as public services, education, finance, and shopping. Meanwhile, the SK Telecom-led consortium plans to launch an agentic AI service capable of not only answering user queries but also performing tasks like identification, applications, and purchases. SK Telecom CEO Jeong highlighted the importance of securing a sovereign AI model, noting that local companies' ability to train AI models in Korean and understand local lifestyles offers a distinct competitive edge.