South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT has selected three consortiums led by SK Telecom, KT and Kakao to operate the government-backed AI for All Project. The programme, formally titled the initiative to support universal use of AI services by all citizens, aims to provide free artificial intelligence services to the general population. The selection followed written and presentation evaluations of six bidders who participated in a public competition.
The AI for All Project is designed to go beyond general-purpose chatbots by creating AI agents that connect to actual public, medical, financial, education and housing services. Rather than users navigating multiple apps and websites, the AI finds the relevant service and carries them through each step. Services under the AI for All Project will roll out in stages, with the Kakao consortium planning a beta service in September and SK Telecom unveiling its beta in October before a full launch within the year.
SK Telecom, KT and Kakao Selected for AI for All
Each of the three consortiums brings a distinct approach to delivering nationwide AI services.
The SK Telecom consortium, which includes Goodoc, Shinhan Card and TMAP Mobility, has proposed an action-oriented daily-life AI assistant. The service would be accessible through phone calls and text messages, handling tasks ranging from government paperwork and health management to job hunting. By linking with Government24 and PASS, users could obtain 83 types of certificates. The assistant would also gather medical checkup results, explain them in plain language and guide users to nearby hospitals. For job seekers, it would track application deadlines and assist with cover letters and interview preparation. SK Telecom plans to build its service around its proprietary AI foundation model while also drawing on a range of domestic AI models.
KT’s consortium includes Upstage, Musinsa and Zigbang. KT has proposed a personalised AI service that ties together housing, education, finance and shopping into a single integrated assistant linked to commerce platforms. With user consent, the AI remembers interests, schedules and tasks in progress, and proactively suggests what needs to be done next. KT’s consortium will draw on multiple Korean AI models and will also deploy domestic AI infrastructure technologies, including Korean-made neural processing units.
The Kakao consortium, which includes LG Uplus and Seoul National University Hospital, plans to make KakaoTalk the main point of contact for AI services. Users would access a general-purpose AI chatbot within KakaoTalk and be connected to specialised AI agents covering medical, financial, tax, education, employment and care services. The service will run on in-house AI models including Kakao’s Kanana and K-EXAONE.
Nationwide AI Services Planned After Beta Testing
The government plans to sign agreements with the three selected operators and will provide them with 512 Nvidia B200 GPUs this year to support the AI for All Project. The nationwide service is planned to launch after the beta phase is completed.
A key priority of the AI for All Project is accessibility. SK Telecom is making its AI available through phone calls and text messages, while Kakao and LG Uplus plan to offer access through KakaoTalk and phone calls. KT will build a dedicated app and website while also applying AI functions to existing services. These channels are intended to ensure that older adults and people less comfortable with digital devices can use AI services through familiar tools.
The project also aims to create real-world use cases for the domestic AI industry. All three consortiums plan to use multiple Korean AI models, turning large-scale public services into a proving ground for domestically developed artificial intelligence technologies. The role of major telecom operators in delivering these nationwide AI services underscores the infrastructure capabilities required to support the AI for All Project at scale.