“Let’s make 2023 a year of ‘leap and transformation’ on our journey to becoming an AI company.”

SK Telecom CEO Yoo Young-sang revealed his ambition to make 2023 the 'first year of executing the vision to leap forward and transform into an AI company' in a New Year's address email sent to all SK Telecom and SK Broadband members on the 2nd.

In November 2021, SKT announced the opening of the SKT 2.0 era and revealed its vision for becoming an AI company based on five major innovative business units.

CEO Yoo said, “2022 was a year that showed the beginning of a new normal after the pandemic, and an era of inflation and deglobalization arrived due to unprecedented interest rate hikes and the outbreak of war,” and predicted that “this will continue to be an uncertain business environment factor in the new year.” In addition, it is predicted that conversational AI, metaverse, and Web3, which are being mentioned as candidates for the next Internet, will continue to develop despite ups and downs.

In this situation, CEO Yoo emphasized, “Rather than cowering, we must make this year a year of ‘leap forward and transformation,’” and in particular, “This must be a year in which we put into practice and visualize the results of our VISION of being an ‘AI company that benefits customers with technology and services.’”

To this end, SKT announced that it will build a foundation for the growth of a global AI service provider through the successful establishment of 'AI.', redefine existing businesses such as wired and wireless communications, media, and enterprise as AI, and actively promote the AI transformation (AIX) of other industries.

A., released in May, is a growth-oriented AI service introduced by SKT. It converses with customers on free topics in Korean and provides services such as T-map route guidance, content playback, and alarms.

CEO Yoo also expressed his ultimate ambition to secure services and technological capabilities at the level of 'Global Big Tech'. Finally, he said, “The path we are taking now is one that no one has ever taken before, but let us take this path together with pride in pioneering the history of telecommunications and ICT in the Republic of Korea and confidence in our success.”

In an email to members, CEO Yoo concluded his New Year’s address by saying, “Based on the vision of the AI company, let’s all work together to create a foundation that will allow us to make a big leap like the black rabbit of the year of the cat and reap a big harvest starting next year.”

Meanwhile, SKT has shown steady growth in its wired and wireless communications business last year, and has solidified its competitiveness in the media business sector. In addition, it is achieving meaningful results in the enterprise business, which is leading the market based on data center, cloud, and TB synergy, the AI-based service ecosystem including A., Ifland, and T Universe, and the connected intelligence business including the AI semiconductor company Sapion and urban air traffic (UAM).

SKT said that it has spent the year improving customer satisfaction through various services, continuing ESG management, and creating social value, and that it will continue to leap forward as an 'AI company' that benefits customers through technology and services and unfold a differentiated vision.

As the performance of the three mobile carriers this year is expected to be determined by securing killer content in new businesses rather than existing telecommunications, SKT's vision as an AI company is expected to be reflected in the increase in corporate value in the future.