Telecom giants SKT and KT are fiercely competing for dominance as they transition into AI-focused companies. In a significant showcase at Coex, located in Seoul’s Gangnam district, both companies premiered their booths at the ‘2024 World IT Show (WIS)’. They captured the interest of attendees with their displays of AICT technologies that patrons can experience in their daily lives.
SKT’s exhibit offered a journey through its history in celebration of its 40th anniversary, presenting a museum-like experience featuring the evolution of mobile communications and AI advancements. At the entrance, visitors were greeted by a stunning LED gate and a giant mobile phone model with kinetic LEDs, reminiscent of SKT’s vintage brand ‘SPEED 011.’
The highlight of SKT’s presentation was their array of pioneering achievements, like the first wireless car phone service launched in 1984, the first CDMA commercial device, the inaugural 4G LTE service in Korea, and being the world’s first to commercialize 5G. SKT also featured an interactive zone where visitors could test the A-dot AI personal assistant among various services, including translation calls, call summaries, and entertainment options like music and games. Cutting-edge applications such as the X Caliber pet AI diagnostic aid and the AI Media Studio for content quality enhancement were also on display.
Meanwhile, KT designed its exhibition space around everyday environments like schools and workplaces, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in AICT applications. The school-themed zone demonstrated an AI report generator analyzing and summarizing teacher-parent conversations, including sentiment analysis. Work-centric setups showcased KT’s AICC technology and bespoke AI empirical experiences across various industries. Unique AI capabilities were highlighted by AI Creator, facilitating simple graphic design and traditional Korean illustrations. There were also AI-powered GIS search services enabling intuitive map searches with natural language prompts like ‘find popular restaurants.’
A centerpiece of the show included future urban air mobility (UAM) network technologies, demonstrating advanced preparations for a world where flying urban transportation is a reality. Additionally, kt ds, a KT Group company, introduced automation solutions like the Antbot for robotic process automation (RPA) and the Beast, an API gateway solution known for handling large traffic volumes efficiently.
In these innovative exhibits, both SKT and KT went beyond showcasing technologies; they effectively gave us a glimpse into the future, emphasizing their readiness to lead in the AI era.
Key Challenges and Controversies:
– Privacy and Data Security: As telecom companies like SKT and KT advance in AICT technologies, they gather vast amounts of user data. This raises concerns about user privacy and data security. Safeguarding personal information while providing AI-enabled services is a significant challenge they must address.
– AI Ethics and Accountability: The development and deployment of AI technologies come with ethical considerations, such as the potential for biases in AI decision-making and the need for transparent and accountable AI systems.
– Regulatory Compliance: Both companies will have to navigate complex regulatory environments as they implement next-generation technologies, ensuring compliance with domestic and international standards and laws.
– Infrastructure Readiness: The successful deployment of technologies like 5G and UAM depends on the readiness of the underlying infrastructure. Urban air mobility, for instance, requires robust air traffic management systems and regulatory frameworks.
Advantages of AICT Technologies:
– Enhanced Connectivity and Services: AICT advancements offer enhanced connectivity options and a plethora of services, ranging from improved mobile communications to creative AI-powered applications.
– Economic Growth Potential: The development of these technologies can stimulate economic growth and job creation in the IT sector as well as in ancillary industries.
– Improved Quality of Life: By integrating AI into daily environments such as schools and workplaces, technology can potentially lead to a higher standard of living through personalized and efficient services.
Disadvantages of AICT Technologies:
– Technology Dependence: Increased reliance on AI and ICT can lead to societal dependence on technology, potentially impacting social skills and human interaction.
– Digital Divide: As new technological solutions emerge, there is a risk of deepening the digital divide between those who have access to these technologies and those who do not.
– Job Displacement: Automation and AI could lead to job displacement in certain sectors, sparking debates on how best to prepare the workforce for the shifting employment landscape.
For additional information relevant to the telecom industry and its latest developments, you may visit the following official websites:
These links provide access to the latest news, updates, and information on the services and technologies offered by SKT and KT.
The source of the article is from the blog jomfruland.net