SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won has proposed the introduction of a "one agent per person" initiative to accelerate the company's transition to artificial intelligence (AI). He emphasized the need for swift action from executives and employees, stating, "It is time to embark on a comprehensive and rapid AI transition (AX)." Following Samsung Electronics' recent move to fully integrate AI into its operations, SK is also accelerating its group-wide AI transition.
According to SK Group, Chey made these remarks during the 2026 New Icheon Forum, held from June 11 to 13 at the SKMS Research Institute in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, under the theme "Disruptive Innovation Brought by AI: Transitioning to AX-Centric Management."
Chey highlighted the implementation of the "one agent per person" strategy as a key component of the AX plan. He stated, "We need to evolve from 'my AI' to 'our AI,'" stressing that while over 90% of employees currently use AI, there is a need for AI that supports the entire organization and contributes to collective outcomes.
He added, "I will create not just one, but countless agents to facilitate communication with executives and employees across various companies."
AI agents refer to personalized AI assistant services tailored for work, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude. The strategy aims to enhance work innovation by ensuring that every employee utilizes an AI agent.
As the first step in the AX initiative, Chey stated, "It is essential to accurately understand what we are doing first," explaining that defining their work and determining how to innovate through AI is crucial. He emphasized the importance of continuously accumulating data to identify and address issues in real-time.
Chey defined the essence of AX as "operational improvement (O/I)," stating, "Defining our work and changing our work processes are all part of O/I." He further noted, "AX is the best means to enhance our O/I execution capabilities," asserting that the ability to overcome numerous challenges and respond to future opportunities ultimately stems from O/I capabilities. Therefore, strengthening fundamentals and execution through AX-based O/I is essential.
During the forum, Chey predicted that the global AI industry would see growth in various applications that generate intelligence. He assessed SK Group's competitiveness, noting, "Few companies possess all the necessary components for the AI era, including memory, data center infrastructure, energy, and electrification capabilities," and praised SK's business areas for being well-equipped to lead in the AI era.
Chey warned that if the company does not execute a comprehensive AX strategy with urgency, the current opportunity may not easily present itself again, urging executives to maintain a strong sense of crisis.
Since 2019, Chey has emphasized AI as a key agenda item at the Icheon Forum. This year marked the first time the forum focused exclusively on AI over three days of intensive discussions.
This year's forum also showcased the contributions of virtual panel agents utilizing AI. An AI agent named "Sky" summarized discussions among executives in real-time, while a panel consisting of consultants, executives, and employees participated in discussions alongside current staff.
Professor Choi Byung-ho of Korea University’s AI Research Institute remarked, "The adoption of AI by companies signifies an improvement in work processes," adding that as AI collaborates with humans, the potential for enhanced work efficiency and productivity will grow significantly.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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