KT has accelerated its push into artificial intelligence (AI) by securing approximately 22 AI transformation (AX) projects in the financial sector this year. As companies increasingly demonstrate tangible management results from AI adoption, KT is leveraging its experience in financial AX implementation to promote 'AI that delivers financial performance.'
On July 23, KT held a 'Financial AX Study' at the Four Seasons Hotel in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, where it presented its AI business strategy and key implementation cases. Park Cheol-woo, Senior Vice President of KT's Enterprise Division, stated, "We have secured about 22 AX projects in the first half of the year," adding that the current focus is on AI contact centers (AICC).
He noted that the criteria for AI adoption among companies have shifted from merely implementing the latest large language models (LLMs) to focusing on actual management outcomes. Park emphasized, "In the past, discussions centered on which LLM to use or which model was superior. Now, the key question is how much revenue can be generated and costs reduced from a 10 billion won investment in AX transformation. Only AI that impacts financial statements in the enterprise market will succeed."
Park also mentioned that KT avoids projects that only yield qualitative benefits. He stated, "Instead of saying productivity has improved, we propose quantifying how much operating costs have decreased and how much revenue has increased."
He identified the rapid spread of AX in the financial sector as being due to several factors: well-organized data, standardized work processes, and an industry structure that makes it easy to quantify performance. Park remarked, "The financial sector is one of the industries that has the best-organized data, making it easier to apply AI agents and verify cost savings numerically."
Based on this foundation, KT is expanding its references in the financial sector. According to the company, four out of the five major commercial banks in South Korea are currently building and operating AICCs. Additionally, KT is working on an integrated AI platform project that connects IT infrastructure, data platforms, and AI agents for credit card companies. Park noted, "This related business will be a key keyword in the corporate AX market in the second half of the year," explaining that they secured a leading project in February, aiming for completion by this fall.
KT is also expanding its collaboration with global company Palantir. The partnership includes consulting to assess clients' AI adoption potential, free workshops to identify applicable tasks, pilot projects, and support programs for actual operational stages. Park stated, "While Palantir offers excellent solutions, it can be challenging for clients to determine which tasks to apply them to. KT's role is to help identify applicable areas and connect them through pilots to actual production stages."
He concluded, "AX is not just about building systems; it is a process of collaborating with clients from strategy formulation to implementation, operation, and internal capability development. The AX domain also includes discarding systems that yield low performance post-implementation and rebuilding them."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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