Korean tech giants capitalize on global AI boom [REWIND 2023]

Samsung's generative AI model Gauss is presented at the SDC23 Korea in November. [YONHAP]

Korean tech giants unveiled significant investments and introduced new services powered by generative AI, aiming to capitalize on the global AI boom sparked by OpenAI's ChatGPT.

Samsung Electronics unveiled its own generative AI model, Gauss, in November, which is expected to be applied to a wide variety of Samsung products including Galaxy smartphones.

In its initial phase, the platform will primarily be used for internal purposes, functioning as a tool to assist with tasks like email composition and summarizing meeting notes.

Samsung is also working to develop an AI chip partnership with Naver.

KT, Korea's major mobile carrier, vowed to pour 7 trillion won ($5.4 billion) into AI for the next five years and diversify its AI-related business portfolio to include robots, health care and education. It is targeting 1.3 trillion won in revenue from AI in 2025.

SK Telecom, another prominent mobile carrier in Korea, has committed to tripling its investment in AI over the next five years, aiming to attain revenue exceeding 25 trillion won from AI-related ventures. As part of this ambition, its A. service, conceived as an AI assistant, offers features such as call summarization and simultaneous translation in four different languages.

Naver and LG have rolled out significant updates to their large-language models (LLMs) – HyperCLOVA X and Exaone – as they vie to challenge ChatGPT's dominance in the market. HyperCLOVA X boasts proficiency in the Korean language, while Exaone focuses on specific sectors such as drug development and patent verifications.

BY JIN EUN-SOO [jin.eunsoo@joongang.co.kr]