SK Telecom, Kakao, and KT Selected as Everyone's AI Operators... Service Launch by Year-End (Comprehensive)

Comprehensive Evaluation of Service Competitiveness and Quality
Beta Testing Planned for Next Month, Official Launch by Year-End
512 Units of B200 GPUs to Be Provided; Financial Support Starts Next Year

Three companies—SK Telecom, Kakao, and KT—have been selected for the “Everyone’s AI” project, which will provide free artificial intelligence (AI) services to the entire public.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on August 28 that it had conducted both document review and presentation evaluation for six applicants (consortia) who applied for the “Everyone’s AI” project. As a result, the SKT Consortium, Kakao Consortium, and KT Consortium have been chosen as the service providers for the initiative.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, Hoongun Bae, is attending the launch ceremony of the Everyone's AI Growth Ladder Project held on the morning of the 3rd at the National Gwangju Science Museum in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, Jeonnam. Photo by Yonhap News

Six companies—SKT, KT, Kakao, ESTsoft, MKD, and Xenon—submitted applications for the Everyone’s AI project, the application period for which closed on August 18. Among them, four companies, excluding MKD and Xenon, formed consortia to participate in the project.

The evaluations consisted of two stages: a document review and a presentation review. The document review examined the competitiveness of AI models and services, as well as the technical suitability, including plans for utilizing graphics processing units (GPUs) and operating infrastructure. The presentation evaluation, which included a prototype demonstration video, comprehensively assessed strategies for service convenience and user acquisition, plans for securing service quality and safety, and plans for contributing to the AI ecosystem.

However, at the request of participating companies, the government has decided not to disclose the evaluation scores or rankings.

SKT to Build Executable AI, Kakao Integrates AI Agents into Chatbots…KT Pursues Integrated AI Service

The SKT Consortium plans to develop an executable AI service that can handle the entire process, from planning and execution to checking results, with a single request. The service is not limited to AI applications but will also be available through phone and SMS, ensuring that digitally vulnerable groups, such as middle-aged or elderly individuals who may have difficulty using smartphones, can access the service without any additional installation. Additionally, the consortium will implement an AI agent function that verifies contact information for stores and government offices, then connects users through proxy calls, alongside specialized services in areas like healthcare and finance.

The SKT Consortium will utilize models such as A.Dot X K2 (SKT), Solar Open 2 (Upstage), Motif 3 (Motif Technologies), and K-EXAONE 2.0 (LG AI Research Institute).

The Kakao Consortium aims to offer a service that enables both general-purpose chatbots and AI agents to be used seamlessly through KakaoTalk. Together with LG Uplus, it will launch a “lite” version of its general-purpose voice AI service within the year. Furthermore, through the Play MCP platform, a model context protocol (MCP) platform, and an AI agent marketplace, the consortium will help AI companies directly distribute their specialized agents.

Kakao included key LG Group affiliates such as LG AI Research Institute, LG Uplus, LG Electronics, and LG CNS in its consortium. The AI models used will include Kanana (Kakao), Exaone, and K-EXAONE 2.0 (from LG AI Research Institute).

The KT Consortium is developing an integrated AI service capable of supporting information retrieval, execution of public and specialized services, and management—all within a single conversation. In addition to search and news via the Daum portal, AI access points will be placed on sites such as Danawa, Musinsa, and Zigbang, connecting search demand directly to AI chatbots. KT's telecom channels and IPTV media services will also be linked with Everyone’s AI.

KT formed its consortium with companies experienced in the “Dokpamo” project, such as Upstage and Motif Technologies. The KT Consortium will use the Mi:um K Pro 2.5 (KT), Solar Pro 4 (Upstage), and Motif 3 models.

This year, the government will provide the selected three companies with 512 NVIDIA GPU B200 units each. From 2027, government funding will cover the costs required to provide services to the public nationwide. Government support will continue for five years, from the date of agreement signing through December 31, 2030.

The Ministry of Science and ICT plans to sign agreements with the three companies in September. After a beta service launch the same month, the official rollout of the Everyone’s AI service is scheduled for the end of this year.

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