SK telecom is undergoing a complete transformation into an “Artificial Intelligence (AI) company,” expanding its global business ventures. Following an organizational restructuring in June, the company has now finalized a reorganization focused on strengthening AI and global business operations. This move shifts the company’s core focus from telecommunications to AI-related businesses, attracting significant attention.
On Dec. 28, industry sources revealed that SK telecom’s CEO Yu Young-sang emphasized the importance of this organizational change, stating, “Next year is crucial for maximizing the execution of our ‘AI Pyramid Strategy’ and for materializing the results of our changes and innovations.” He further explained, “The reorganization and executive appointments aimed to create the most effective structure for executing the company’s strategy, focusing on global and AI capabilities, and restructuring leadership around talents with proven expertise in these areas.”
In September, SK telecom announced the AI Pyramid Strategy centered on three main areas: AI Infrastructure, AI Transformation (AIX), and AI Services. The strategy led to the establishment of four major business divisions. The company formed the AI Services Business Division and the Global & AI Tech Business Division to create a telco-specialized Large Language Model (LLM) and a Global AI Personal Assistant (PAA). Through these divisions, SK telecom plans to actively incorporate AI in all business areas, including wireless and wired communications, media, and enterprise, to explore new growth opportunities.
The synergy between SK telecom and SK broadband is enhanced through the “T-B One Body System,” restructuring into “T-B Customer Business Division” and “T-B Enterprise Business Division.” In its executive appointments, the company has also focused on talent capable of enhancing the execution of the AI Pyramid Strategy, appointing 16 new executives.
SK telecom is accelerating efforts to improve productivity and efficiency by applying AI in internal operations. In March, the company introduced “AI Co-Worker,” a robot process automation (RPA) based system that performs tasks at times convenient for employees. In May, they also added a work-focused ChatGPT menu to their intranet.
Furthermore, SK telecom is pursuing other innovative projects like “A.Dot,” an iPhone app offering call recording and summarization services, Urban Air Mobility (UAM) business, and the pet medical AI service “Excaliber.” A company representative stated, “We plan to introduce an integrated transport service, connecting ground transportation and UAM, in collaboration with T Map Mobility. Also, we have signed a partnership agreement with Anicom Holdings, Japan’s largest pet insurance group, for Excaliber.”