SK Telecom and Deutsche Telekom to develop large language model

SK Telecom and Deutsche Telekom will develop a large language model for global telecom companies, aiming to launch in Q1 2024. The model will enhance wireless services and generate AI-powered business models.

Deutsche Telekom CEO Tim Höttges and SK Telecom CEO Ryu Young-sang pose for a photo after signing a partnership to codevelop a multilingual large language model at SK Telecom headquarters in Jung District, central Seoul, on Friday. [SK TELECOM]

SK Telecom and German telecom company Deutsche Telekom will establish a large language model tailored to global telecom companies next year.

A large language model is a sophisticated AI-powered software designed to understand, generate, and analyze human language at an extensive scale, enabling it to assist in various tasks such as natural language processing, text generation, and data processing.

The two companies will collaborate with global AI companies such as Anthropic and Meta to create multilingual large language models available in German, English and Korean. Their goal is to launch the service in the first quarter of 2024.

The model will become the basis for global wireless carriers to develop generative AI services.

Large language models for global telecom companies have a high understanding of wireless services and data that can be easily deployed in their respective business sectors, such as the AI Contact Center, and can monitor network infrastructure to enhance efficiency, SK Telecom explained in a statement.

The two companies’ collaboration derives from a partnership dubbed the “Global Telco AI Alliance” in July, consisting of four major global telecom companies — SK Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, e& and Singtel — that will jointly cooperate to develop new AI-powered business models and related services.

“SK Telecom found a new opportunity for growth and secured its position as a market leader in global AI market through its partnership with Deutsche Telekom, one of the biggest global telecommunications companies,” SK Telecom CEO Ryu Young-sang said in a statement. “We hope to provide value-added customer experience utilizing the two companies’ AI technologies, platforms and infrastructure.”

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]