SK Telecom Provides Proprietary AI Model API to Three Startups... "Boosting the AI Ecosystem"

Participation in the "Everyone's Challenge AX-LLM" by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups

SK Telecom announced on the 26th that it will support application programming interfaces (APIs) based on AI models so that domestic startups can develop and verify artificial intelligence (AI) services.

SK Telecom is participating in the "2026 Everyone's Challenge AX-LLM" led by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. This initiative is intended to provide the technical collaboration needed by domestic startups in the process of introducing and utilizing homegrown AI models.

SK Telecom announced on the 26th that it will support application programming interfaces (APIs) based on AI models to allow domestic startups to develop and verify artificial intelligence (AI) services. SK Telecom

SK Telecom is also supporting the use of models developed under the government-led AI Foundation Model Project (Dokpamo) within the startup and developer ecosystem. This participation is aimed at expanding the application and use cases of the A.X K1 model, which was completed at the end of last year.

Seven demand companies that have their own large language models (LLMs) are participating in the 2026 Everyone's Challenge AX-LLM. Startups select one of these demand companies and submit their business plans; the participating company then selects its collaboration partners and provides support.

SK Telecom received the most collaboration applications from startups among the participating companies. Following a review process involving both SK Telecom and external experts, three companies—Team Limited, Perselly, and DevAll Company—were selected as collaboration partners.

Team Limited provides a personalized shopping curation agent based on a receipt platform. Perselly is a provider of AI-based influencer marketing and promotion automation solutions, and DevAll Company offers overdue credit management AI solutions.

SK Telecom plans to provide the A.X K1 API to the selected startups until the end of this year. In addition, the company will support service enhancement and business validation through connection with "Sketch with AI," its startup acceleration program.

Each startup is expected to develop and verify AI services that can be utilized at customer touchpoints during the collaboration period. Over the course of the "Everyone's Challenge AX-LLM," they will transition their services to the A.X K1 model and prepare for a Proof of Concept (PoC) aimed at establishing business partnerships with SK Telecom in the future.

Um Jong-hwan, Head of Sustainable Management at SK Telecom, stated, "We will expand the scope of application for SK Telecom's proprietary AI models and contribute to the activation of the domestic AI ecosystem through cooperation with startups."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.