Hong Beom-sik (홍범식), CEO of LG Uplus, set out a vision for opening the future of voice communication through the AI call agent ixi-O at the opening keynote of MWC26, the world’s largest mobile communications exhibition.

Hong took the stage as a keynote speaker representing South Korean telecom operators at the MWC26 opening ceremony held in Barcelona, Spain, on March 2 (local time). It was the first time LG Uplus has delivered an official MWC keynote within the LG Group.

Speaking under the theme “Humanizing Every Connection”, Hong greeted the audience in Spanish to applause. He stressed that the more AI technologies and devices emerge, the more voice will become a key interface. He said the advanced voice agent ixi-O could become central to future communication.

Hong began his speech with a personal experience of hearing by phone from his son in Boston about the birth of a grandchild. He placed high value on the importance of “voice” that cannot be replaced by text messages or email. “Even in calls that average just over 5 minutes a day, countless emotions are exchanged,” he said. “When sharing meaningful moments, there is no tool that connects people more deeply than a phone call,” he said.

LG Uplus is strengthening its AI call agent strategy to make voice an essential way to connect people once again. It plans to enhance the value of communication with voice-based AI through ixi-O.

Hong introduced ixi-O’s safety features, such as detecting spam or suspicious signals in advance and analysing call context to identify voice-phishing scams. He also said it has a convenience feature that lets users summon AI during a call to search immediately for needed information.

LG Uplus is strengthening ixi-O’s on-device AI technology based on the LG Group’s large language model EXAONE. It aims to improve call experiences while managing customer information more securely. Hong said the customer net promoter score rose after ixi-O was introduced and user churn fell sharply.

“Now ixi-O will go beyond an AI assistant that acts only when a person gives commands,” he said. “It will understand conversational context and seek out what it needs to do on its own,” he said.

LG Uplus also screened a video during the keynote that reflected its human-centred AI philosophy. The video introduced a process in which a family longing for the taste of a mother’s cooking finds a recipe through ixi-O. It carried a message that AI technology ultimately restores connections within a family.

Hong also predicted that voice would become the central interface in an era when wearable devices such as smart glasses, AI agents and physical AI spread. “An evolved voice agent that understands me most deeply and takes responsibility even for everyday safety becomes the core of future communication,” he said.

He also stressed the need for global cooperation. “If the telecom operators gathered here today continue to cooperate, I believe telecom operators can become global AI leaders that create a better customer experience in voice communication,” he said, as he concluded the keynote.

“If we continue to cooperate with the telecom operators gathered here today, telecom operators can become global AI leaders that create a better customer experience in voice communication,” he said. “If you agree with LG Uplus’ future vision, please join us anytime,” he said, as he concluded the speech.

Hong’s keynote drew high view counts on GSMA’s live broadcast channel, confirming global interest in South Korean AI technology. LG Uplus said it received cooperation inquiries from many companies after the keynote became known.

The keynote also featured global company heads including John Stankey of AT&T, Cristiano Amon of Qualcomm and Justin Hotard of Nokia, heating up the MWC26 venue.