SK Telecom enables voice control of music appliances and even delivery orders by linking with smart homes.
Plans to release core APIs to external developers and expand into vehicle-mounted and robotic types.

SK Telecom has released a significant product that combines existing telecommunications technology and media platform technology.

SK Telecom announced on the 31st that it has ushered in the "era of AI popularization" with the launch of "NUGU," an AI service that speaks as if in a conversation. On this day, the company unveiled the voice recognition-based AI service "NUGU" and its dedicated device, and also announced plans to build the evolution of its AI platform services together with customers and external developers.

The AI service 'Nugu' is a service that identifies and fulfills customer requests through advanced voice recognition technology and an AI engine when customers speak to a dedicated device as if having a conversation. The company explained that it launched the AI service in preparation for the era of AI-based service convergence.


This service supports integration with music streaming services and smart homes, controls home appliances such as lighting, dehumidifiers, plugs, and TVs, music recommendations and automatic playback, information guidance including weather and schedules, and provides various information and conveniences such as smartphone location tracking. Additionally, we plan to incorporate commerce features such as online shopping and food delivery orders, as well as lifestyle information including real-time fast route guidance linked with T Map and convenient knowledge search.

In the case of music, if a customer says, "Play some upbeat music," it automatically selects and plays cheerful music while also providing musical information such as the artist and title. Similarly, if asked about the weather, it provides weather information for the relevant area via voice. The company emphasized that because 'Nugu' can add new features simply by upgrading its cloud-based software and AI platform, it can reflect the rapidly changing and diverse needs of customers in a short period of time.

SK Telecom, a telecommunications company, has been focusing on developing advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, voice recognition, and natural language processing engines since 2011. In particular, the company explained that 'Nugu's' Korean-specific voice recognition technology boasts the highest level of voice recognition accuracy in the country, capable of understanding even voice tone, intonation, and dialects. This is made possible by applying the 'natural language processing engine' independently developed by SK Telecom.

SK Telecom plans to establish the newly launched 'Nugu' as one of its flagship platform businesses through openness and collaboration, and to build an ecosystem with various companies. To this end, it will release 'Nugu's' core APIs externally in the first half of next year and pursue collaboration with external developers through programs such as 'T Developers'.

SK Telecom is offering a smart device exclusively for 'Nugu' to interested customers for 99,000 won, a 60% discount from the regular price (limited quantity) until the end of October. Subsequently, we plan to hold an idea contest for purchasing customers, and the ideas collected will be reflected in future feature upgrades.

It will be sold for 149,000 won from November, when the second customer participation event is scheduled, until the end of December, and at the regular price (scheduled for 249,000 won) starting next year. Following the launch of the home version of 'Nugu,' SK Telecom plans to expand 'Nugu' into an 'artificial intelligence platform' that provides entirely new conveniences across customers' lives by integrating 'Nugu' services into various devices such as automotive IoT, body-worn IoT, and humanoid robots.

SK Telecom’s Park Il-hwan, Head of Division, stated, “Historically, a new platform has emerged whenever a new user interface appeared,” adding, “Voice interfaces offer a higher sense of intimacy with humans than touch interfaces and can be integrated into a much wider variety of devices. In particular, they can unleash powerful capabilities when combined with artificial intelligence.”

Director Park continued, “AI will advance as customer experience accumulates,” adding, “We will create a new AI ecosystem through open services.”

The following is a brief summary of the Q&A from the presentation.

Does 'NUGU' have its own communication capabilities, and are there any additional costs after purchasing the dedicated device?
'NUGU' has WiFi communication capabilities. It can connect with nearby smart devices through a downloaded app. There are no additional costs for data upgrades when you purchase the device.

- Is your affiliate SK C&C also developing AI services?
AI services based on Watson are closer to expert systems and are B2B businesses. SK Telecom's 'NUGU' is a service focused on B2C business that general consumers can use. However, cooperation may occur over time.

- Whether it can be called by a specific name when conversing with a dedicated device.
Currently, you can converse while calling it by about four names, such as Tinkerbell. Learning is required to apply new names. In the future, you will be able to call it by various names.

Is the music coming from the dedicated device free?
Melon Music is provided for free for up to 3 months after launch.

- How is it different from Amazon's Echo device?
The scope of the artificial intelligence business is extremely broad. Each company is conducting business in various ways. SK Telecom's 'NUGU' is a highly polished service resulting from the company's long-term research.

- 'NUGU' answers no matter who calls, but are there no security issues?
Currently, it answers whenever someone calls, but next year, we plan to apply speaker authentication technology that responds to specific voices.