KT is set to launch a separate application for its free artificial intelligence (AI) service, 'Everyone's AI.' The company plans to provide services centered around this app while integrating AI features into existing platforms such as Daum, Musinsa, and Zigbang to broaden user engagement.
Lee Jin-hyung, head of KT's AX Business Division, stated during an online briefing on September 11, "The government's initiative aims to create new services rather than simply adding AI features to existing ones. The KT consortium has decided to develop a separate service."
The KT consortium includes KT, Upstage, Saltlux, Daum, Musinsa, Zigbang, EBS, Masspresso, and BC Card, among other domestic AI service companies.
To expand user connections for the separate app, KT is promoting its 'Inside Eum' strategy. Inside Eum is an open AI ecosystem that integrates AI into various services used by the public, connecting them to a universal AI agent. Unlike traditional AI agents that pull external services into their framework, KT's AI agent facilitates a two-way connection with external services.
Lee noted, "Users will have access to a separate 'Eum Agent' and can utilize AI features through the 'Inside Eum' button embedded in existing services from various partners within the KT consortium, such as Danawa and Zigbang."
This means users can not only use the Everyone's AI app directly but also access AI search functions on the Daum portal and utilize the same AI features across services from Daum and consortium partners, including KT's Genie TV. According to KT, the combined service touchpoints of consortium partners exceed 60 million.
The existing Daum portal will incorporate AI search capabilities, aiming to connect users of existing services to the Everyone's AI ecosystem by merging Daum's search and content with AI.
Lee added, "External businesses can also participate. If a business applies, KT will provide the service, and for smaller businesses lacking technical capabilities, we will support the implementation of search engines and other functionalities."
Currently, discussions are underway with seven additional companies for partnerships. Lee mentioned, "Businesses providing services in finance, hotel bookings, and restaurant reservations have expressed interest in participating. We plan to sign individual memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with these companies to include them in the Inside Eum ecosystem." He further stated, "We aim to gradually expand services by February or March next year."
KT is also committed to strengthening the domestic AI ecosystem. The consortium includes domestic AI model developers such as Upstage, Motif Technologies, and NC AI. Additionally, KT will utilize its own model, 'Mideum,' and Saltlux's 'public specialized model.'
Instead of having a single model handle all requests, KT will implement a 'model routing' approach that selects the appropriate model based on user requests. Lee explained, "Upstage's Solar model will be primarily used for inference and agents, while Motif's model will be utilized for tasks requiring long context processing."
For AI infrastructure operations, KT will apply its Token Factory technology. Lee emphasized, "Even when using the same graphics processing unit (GPU), applying KT's Token Factory technology can improve efficiency by about 21%. If we actively utilize GPUs and domestic neural processing units (NPUs), we can expect to enhance processing capacity by approximately 32%."
To ensure stable service delivery, KT plans to use its own GPUs. Lee mentioned, "In addition to the GPUs supported by the government, we are preparing additional GPUs. We have discussed specific quantities with the government, but we cannot disclose the additional amounts publicly."
While the service will be free, KT is keeping the door open for future monetization. Lee stated, "Currently, we are not considering charging the general public. However, if the government allows monetization of public services in the future, we may offer a separate premium service."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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