The government project Modu AI (모두의 AI, “AI for Everyone”) began its closed beta on October 16 The three consortia led by SKT, Kakao, and KT are testing the services they each built, with an official launch targeted for December

The beta is for staff at participating companies and public institutions, so general users can't use it yet

Logos of Modu AI operators SK Telecom, Kakao, and KT Logos of Modu AI operators SK Telecom, Kakao, and KT

Timeline

Modu AI project schedule from selection to the official launch target Modu AI project schedule from selection to the official launch target — Source: self-rendered based on Ministry of Science and ICT press releases

On August 28, the Ministry of Science and ICT selected SKT, Kakao, and KT out of the six consortia that applied The selected operators receive 512 B200 GPUs in 2026

From 2027, the cost of the public service is covered by the government budget

At the kickoff meeting on September 4, the three showed prototype videos of their services The beta start date became known through press reports on October 14, and the ministry issued no separate press release

Evaluation scores and rankings were not disclosed at the request of the participating companies

Comparing the three services

Concept shot of an AI calling a store on the user's behalf Concept shot of an AI calling a store on the user’s behalf — Source: concept shot · self-generated with agy

The three services differ in where users first encounter them

Consortium Entry point Signature feature
SKT App, web, phone, text messages Action-taking AI that makes calls on your behalf
Kakao KakaoTalk, phone Completing applications, bookings, and payments
KT Daum, partner apps, IPTV Linking search all the way to action

📞 SKT

The goal is an action-taking AI that takes a single request and handles planning, execution, and checking the result For stores or government offices without an API, the AI looks up the contact number and calls on your behalf

The plan is to let older people unfamiliar with apps use it by phone and text without installing anything

💬 Kakao

It offers a chatbot and AI agents together, with KakaoTalk as the entry point It said it will release a lite version of a general-purpose phone AI with LG Uplus within the year

Specialized agents built by outside companies can also connect to the service through PlayMCP and the agent marketplace The beta was reported to have started first in a basic chatbot form

🔎 KT

It provides ways to use AI within the Daum search flow and inside partner apps such as Danawa, Musinsa, and Zigbang The service is named Ieum (이음), connecting specialized services in about ten areas, including public services, education, finance, and shopping, into a single conversation

I covered KT’s model lineup and NPU infrastructure in a KT-only post on October 7

🔗 Link - https://blog.naver.com/rottensweetpotato/224434593918

Models used and participating institutions

Bar chart comparing the number of participating institutions in the SKT, Kakao, and KT consortia Bar chart comparing the number of participating institutions in the SKT, Kakao, and KT consortia — Source: self-rendered based on Ministry of Science and ICT press releases

All three consortia use Korean models, alongside models from other companies SKT and KT both use Upstage’s Solar and Motif Technologies’ Motif 3

Consortium Models used (as announced)
SKT A.X K2, Solar Open 2, Motif 3, K-EXAONE 2.0
Kakao Kanana, EXAONE, K-EXAONE 2.0
KT Mi:dm K Pro 2.5, Solar Pro 4, Motif 3

There are 19 participating institutions for SKT, 16 for KT, and 14 for Kakao

Shinhan Card and TMAP Mobility joined SKT, and Shinhan Bank and Seoul National University Hospital joined Kakao Musinsa, Zigbang, and EBS joined KT

When general users can use it

The October 16 beta is a closed test used only by staff at participating companies and public institutions Reports conflict, some saying general user participation is under review and others saying there are plans to allow it

As of October 19, no consortium had started taking sign-ups from general users The official launch target is December

The government covers the cost through its budget from 2027 According to reports, the 2027 budget is about ₩250 billion

What to watch next

  • Monthly user target: 5 million for each of the three within the year
  • Next target: SKT expanding to 10 million in 2027, Kakao to 30 million
  • Public service links: the scope of filing applications on users’ behalf for public services such as Government24
  • Privacy: concrete versions of the protection and security measures the ministry presented at kickoff

Sources