KT said on Sunday it will introduce a "KT multilingual artificial intelligence (AI) adviser" in its stores, the first such move in the telecom industry, to reduce language barriers for foreign customers.

The multilingual AI adviser provides foreign customers visiting stores with information in their native languages needed to use telecom services, including plans, add-on services, sign-up procedures and membership benefits. It supports more than 20 languages, including English, Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese.

KT signed a related business agreement with conversational AI startup Cplat AI and has run a pilot service since March at three foreigner-focused stores in the Seoul area, including locations in Ansan, Hyehwa and Suwon. Based on the pilot results, KT said it confirmed the effect of supporting consultations and the feasibility of applying it to stores, and will expand the service to additional locations sequentially within the month.

KT expects the service will improve foreign customers’ understanding of telecom products and reduce the burden on store advisers responding in foreign languages. It will also link app-based after-sales management functions so foreign customers can check plans, usage status and membership benefits in their native languages outside stores. It plans to analyse inquiry types by language, interest in products and consultation content, and use them to plan products and benefits tailored to foreign customers.

Kwon Hee-geun (권희근), executive director and head of the sales headquarters in KT’s customer division, said the multilingual AI adviser is an on-site AI transformation service that improves consultation convenience for foreign customers and enhances advisers’ work efficiency. "We will continue to expand AI services that people can feel in everyday life," he said.