KT to debut Korea-specific AI model with Microsoft's upcoming year

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 👀 Today’s Email about:

• KT to debut Korea-specific AI model with Microsoft's upcoming year

• Korean adoptees share their emotional experiences in the new book In Our Own Words.

• Danielle from NewJeans' sister is set to release her debut single.

NEWS 📰

KT to debut Korea-specific AI model with Microsoft's upcoming year

KT is set to introduce a Korea-specific artificial intelligence (AI) model in the first half of next year as part of a collaboration with Microsoft, according to KT CEO Kim Young-shub. This partnership is expected to generate 4.6 trillion won ($3.4 billion) in revenue over the next five years.

Kim stated that the collaboration will accelerate KT’s goal of becoming an AI-driven communication technology (AICT) firm, supporting the AI transformation of Korean companies through AI and cloud services. He emphasized that KT will enhance its AI and cloud capabilities, offering fast, secure, and customized AICT services for both corporate and individual clients in Korea.

KT and Microsoft signed a five-year partnership in September, focusing on AI and cloud services. Together, they plan to develop Korea-specific AI services, utilizing OpenAI's GPT-4 and Microsoft's Phi language model. KT's Chief Technology Officer, Oh Seung-phil, announced that the Korea-specific AI model is expected to be ready by the second quarter of next year. The company is also working on industry-specific AI services using Microsoft’s Phi-3.5 language model, with GPT-4 being trained on Korean educational, historical, and cultural content.

In addition, KT is collaborating with Microsoft to create cloud services tailored to the public and financial sectors, taking into account Korea’s regulatory and security needs. These services are slated for launch in the first quarter of next year.

KT forecasts an additional 269 billion won in revenue from its AI transformation next year, potentially reaching 1.37 trillion won by 2029, with total sales from the partnership expected to reach 4.6 trillion won over five years. KT and Microsoft will invest around 2.4 trillion won in the project, with half going towards infrastructure and the other half for research, development, and marketing.

KT is also preparing to introduce Nvidia's latest H200 graphics processing unit (GPU) to Korea, with Microsoft as the first client to receive it. The companies are discussing expanding their partnership based on GPU supply and demand.

Microsoft Korea CEO Cho Won-woo emphasized the potential of Korea-specific AI services, viewing this partnership as a foundation for expansion into other markets, incorporating information and communication technologies across various sectors.

Korean adoptees share their emotional experiences in the new book In Our Own Words.

A total of 43 Korean-born adoptees, sent overseas as children, recount their difficult journeys in a newly published book titled In Our Own Words. Released on October 4 and written in Korean, the collection features essays from adoptees sent to foreign families just months or years after birth. It includes stories from 21 adoptees in Denmark, five in Norway, four in the Netherlands, three in the U.S., and two in Belgium, with four of them reuniting with their birth parents.

Han Boon-young, an adoptee from Denmark and co-author, expressed hope that the book will help Koreans understand the importance of uncovering the truth about adoptions for the adoptees, their families, and future generations. Han, the co-founder of the Danish Korean Rights Group, has been advocating for the Korean government to release biological information to adoptees. The decision to write the book in Korean, Han explained, was aimed at fostering mutual understanding between adoptees and Korean readers.

The essays shed light on various challenges, including identity issues and difficulties in finding birth families due to a lack of cooperation from the Korean government. The book's release comes as scrutiny of Korea's overseas adoption practices increases. Between the 1960s and 1980s, around 200,000 children were sent to Western countries, earning Korea a controversial reputation as a "baby exporter."

Many adoptees have recently claimed that their adoptions were marred by falsified documents and corrupt practices, potentially involving the government and adoption agencies. One of the stories, by Alice Andersen, details her struggle as an adoptee in Norway and the lack of support from Korean authorities. Despite being eligible for a medical exemption under the Special Adoption Law due to serious health conditions, Andersen has been denied access to her biological information by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

The book's release coincides with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's (TRC) forthcoming announcement on its preliminary findings regarding adoption irregularities. The TRC is expected to release its investigation results on the first 100 of nearly 400 cases filed by adoptees in 2022.

Han voiced concerns about the authorities' inaction, recalling instances of kidnapping, forced identity loss, and abuse experienced by adoptees. Han stressed that it's never too late to do the right thing, though for some adoptees, time may be running out.

ENTERTAINMENT 🌄

Danielle from NewJeans' sister is set to release her debut single.

Olivia Marsh, the older sister of NewJeans member Danielle, is set to debut with her self-written single "42" on October 16. Her label, MPLIFY, revealed a teaser video for the single on Wednesday, announcing both the album's title and release date. The one-minute video features childhood home clips, including moments of Marsh celebrating birthdays, and ends with her answering "Olivia" when asked her name.

The Korean-Australian singer, signed with MPLIFY, which Warner Music Korea launched last month, will be the label's first artist. MPLIFY praised Marsh for her exceptional talent and originality, noting her influences from artists like ABBA, John Denver, Tame Impala, and Vera Blue.

Given Danielle's popularity, her debut has attracted the attention of NewJeans fans. Marsh will perform at SXSW Sydney on October 16, and her debut album will be available on streaming platforms at noon the same day.

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