SK Telecom will strengthen its company-wide AI governance system in line with the implementation of the AI Framework Act and will launch an internal 'Good AI' campaign from Jan. 22 to create safe and trusted services.

SKT will share with employees an easy-to-follow summary of key provisions of the AI Framework Act and privacy compliance requirements. It also upgraded processes for using its 'AI governance portal', launched in September last year, to systematically manage the reliability and safety of AI services. The goal is to embed AI governance deeply into the daily work of all employees.

SKT has pushed ahead with AI ethics management, including establishing in 2021 its 'AI pursuit values' that place people at the core. In March last year, it unveiled its AI governance principles, dubbed 'T.H.E. AI'. In April that year, it obtained ISO/IEC 42001 certification, an international standard for AI management systems, becoming the first domestic telecommunications company to do so.

T.H.E. AI stands for 'by Telco', meaning connection and trust based on telecommunications technology; 'for Humanity', aiming for diversity and inclusion for people and the promotion of human welfare; and 'with Ethics', emphasizing transparency in decisions centered on ethical values and ethical accountability.

The AI governance portal is a system that analyzes risk and opportunity factors in AI services based on T.H.E. AI and diagnoses whether checklists are followed by risk level.

To link user privacy protection and AI governance in AI technology development and use, SKT has had its chief privacy officer oversee related work since December last year.

Cha Ho-beom (차호범), SKT's chief privacy officer, said the company would bring together company-wide capabilities for responsible and trustworthy AI development and use. He said it would provide customers with better value through safe AI.