SK Telecom is paving the way for innovation in the AI space by launching a beta version of their AI-powered personal agent, Aster. This advancement targets users in North America and is set to be released in March 2025. Chung Suk-geun, head of SK Telecom’s Global Personal AI Agent Business Division, emphasized Aster’s capabilities during CES 2025 in Las Vegas.
Introduced previously at the SK AI Summit in Seoul, Aster differentiates itself by going beyond the typical AI services. Aster acts as a life-management assistant, supporting tasks such as goal-setting, planning, and execution while understanding users’ intentions. Its design centers around ‘agentic AI,’ surpassing mere search or Q&A functions.
SK Telecom leveraged generative AI technology to bring Aster to life. The AI agent’s capacity to aid in life management includes personalized planning, execution, and offering guidance. Additionally, it provides conversational search features through a collaboration with Perplexity, a pioneering AI search platform.
According to an SK Telecom official, “Aster’s ability to find solutions through user-agent interactions sets it apart from other AI services.” This aspect not only simplifies decision-making but increases user productivity. SK Telecom intends to extend Aster’s functionalities by collaborating with more third-party AI services.
Looking at the broader picture, SK Telecom is also enhancing its AI capabilities through an organizational restructuring strategy, introduced last month. The company’s CEO Yoo Young-sang highlighted that 2025 marks a year of action. The seven new business divisions are focused on telecommunications and AI, and a centralized unit for shared infrastructure aims to boost both fields.
Within its AI advancements, SK Telecom recently concluded the beta phase of its AI Customer Service Support System. This system, designed with SK Telecom’s Telco LLM and LMM, has performed well since its launch. Through collaboration with industry leaders in LLM, the system is tailored specifically for telecommunications applications.
