TL;DR:
- SK Telecom and Deutsche Telekom have signed an LOI to jointly develop a telco-specific Large Language Model (LLM).
- The initiative aims to empower global telecommunication companies to create generative AI models efficiently.
- The collaboration is a result of the Global Telco AI Alliance formed in July 2023.
- They will partner with AI companies to unveil the telco-specific LLM in Q1 2024.
- This LLM will have a deep understanding of telecommunication services, enhancing customer support.
- It seeks to support telcos worldwide, reducing development time and costs for AI services.
- The collaboration responds to the rising demand for AI solutions in the telco industry.
Main AI News:
SK Telecom and Deutsche Telekom have formalized their commitment to collaborate on the development of a telco-specific Large Language Model (LLM). This groundbreaking initiative aims to provide global telecommunication companies (telcos) with the tools to effortlessly and expeditiously create generative AI models.
The Letter of Intent (LOI) signing ceremony, held at the SK Seorin Building in Seoul, witnessed the participation of key executives from both entities, including Ryu Young-sang, CEO of SKT, Chung Suk-geun, Chief AI Global Officer of SKT, Tim Höttges, CEO of Deutsche Telekom, Claudia Nemat, Board Member Technology and Innovation of Deutsche Telekom, and Jonathan Abrahamson, Chief Product and Digital Officer of Deutsche Telekom.
This milestone achievement is the tangible result of discussions initiated by the Global Telco AI Alliance, a consortium formed by SKT, Deutsche Telekom, E&, and Singtel in July 2023. It signifies the commencement of a journey that will enable these industry giants to venture into the global market.
SKT and Deutsche Telekom are poised to collaborate with esteemed AI companies, including Anthropic (Claude 2) and Meta (Llama2), to co-develop a multilingual Large Language Model (LLM) tailored specifically to the unique requirements of telcos. The first iteration of this telco-centric LLM is scheduled for unveiling in the first quarter of 2024.
Distinguishing itself from general LLMs, the telco-specific LLM will exhibit a heightened understanding of telecommunication service-related domains and customer intentions. This attribute makes it an ideal fit for applications such as AI contact centers, enhancing customer service across the spectrum.
The ultimate goal is to provide support to telcos worldwide, spanning regions such as Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, in developing versatile generative AI services, including AI agents adaptable to their individual environments. This collaborative effort promises to streamline the development of expansive platforms, offering telcos the means to capitalize on AI innovation, thereby revolutionizing the traditional telecommunications sector.
To achieve this objective, SKT and Deutsche Telekom are dedicated to jointly crafting AI platform technologies, empowering telcos to expedite the development of generative AI services while simultaneously reducing associated time and costs. For instance, telcos can swiftly and flexibly construct AI contact centers optimized for their unique operational context. Furthermore, AI applications can extend to network monitoring and on-site operations, thereby bolstering efficiency and driving cost savings over the medium to long term.
This partnership represents a proactive response to the surging demand for AI solutions within the telco sector. It also underscores the commitment of both companies to foster the expansion of the global AI ecosystem by introducing generative AI solutions tailored to specific industries and domains.
Claudia Nemat, Member of the Board of Management for Technology and Innovation at Deutsche Telekom, emphasizes the transformative potential of AI: “AI shows impressive potential to significantly enhance human problem-solving capabilities. To maximize its use, especially in customer service, we need to adapt existing large language models and train them with our unique data. This will elevate our generative AI tools.”
Ryu Young-sang, CEO of SKT, expresses optimism about the partnership’s prospects, stating, “Through our partnership with Deutsche Telekom, we have secured a strong opportunity and momentum to gain global AI leadership and drive new growth. By combining the strengths and capabilities of the two companies in AI technology, platform, and infrastructure, we expect to empower enterprises in many different industries to deliver new and higher value to their customers.“
Conclusion:
The partnership between SK Telecom and Deutsche Telekom to develop a telco-specific LLM represents a strategic move to address the growing demand for AI solutions in the telecommunications sector. By offering tailored AI models, this collaboration is set to revolutionize the industry, enabling telcos to enhance customer service, reduce costs, and drive innovation, ultimately positioning them for sustainable growth in the global market.
