SK Telecom announced the launch of its A.X K1 hyperscale artificial‑intelligence model, a 519‑billion‑parameter system that will serve as a teacher model for smaller language models across the company’s AI ecosystem. The model’s scale is comparable to the largest models deployed by global tech leaders, and it activates roughly 33 billion parameters during inference, enabling advanced multilingual reasoning and complex coding tasks.
The launch marks a pivotal step in SK Telecom’s “AI Pyramid” strategy, which seeks to build a vertically integrated AI stack that spans data centers, model training, and consumer services. By positioning A.X K1 as the foundation of its AI platform, the company is accelerating its transformation from a traditional telecom operator into a full‑stack AI infrastructure provider, a move that aligns with South Korea’s national goal of becoming a top‑three global AI power.
A.X K1 was developed through a consortium that includes SK Telecom, Krafton, 42dot, Rebellions, Liner, SelectStar, Seoul National University, and KAIST. The collaboration brings together expertise in AI research, software engineering, and semiconductor technology, and it underscores the Korean ecosystem’s commitment to sovereign AI capabilities.
The new model will be integrated into SK Telecom’s existing services, including the domestic “A.” personal agent and the upcoming global Aster agent, as well as enterprise solutions such as AIX vision and contact‑center services. By embedding A.X K1 into these products, the company can deliver higher‑quality AI experiences to its 10 million‑plus subscriber base while creating new revenue streams from AI‑as‑a‑service offerings.
Beyond product integration, A.X K1 serves as a testbed for validating the competitiveness of Korea’s semiconductor industry. The model’s demanding memory bandwidth and inter‑GPU communication requirements provide a real‑world benchmark for memory and interconnect technologies, reinforcing SK Telecom’s role as a catalyst for domestic chip innovation.
SK Telecom’s head of foundation model division, Kim Tae‑yoon, emphasized the strategic importance of the launch: “Developing Korea’s first 500‑billion‑parameter scale model marks a new turning point for the country’s ambition to join the global top tier of AI leaders. As Korea’s national AI champion, we will continue working to realize our vision of AI for everyone.” The company’s leadership signals confidence that the A.X K1 platform will drive long‑term growth and solidify its competitive moat in the AI market.
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