SK Telecom’s new AI unit offers voluntary buyouts weeks after launch
▼ Summary
– SK Telecom is offering voluntary retirement to employees at its newly launched AI CIC division as part of integrating its AI-related units.
– The company states this is a supportive measure for role or location changes, not a forced layoff or downsizing effort.
– The AI CIC unit centralizes AI development, including the A. personal agent, data centers, enterprise AI, and global partnerships.
– SK Telecom aims for the AI division to generate ₩5 trillion ($3.5 billion) in annual revenue by 2030 through AI services and infrastructure.
– Recent AI initiatives include offering Nvidia GPU services and partnering with OpenAI on data centers in Korea.
In a significant move within the telecommunications sector, SK Telecom is implementing a voluntary retirement program for staff at its newly formed AI division, AI CIC, mere weeks after its official launch. This initiative aims to consolidate the company’s various artificial intelligence units under one centralized organization. A spokesperson for SK Telecom clarified that the program is designed as a supportive measure for employees whose roles, departments, or work locations might undergo changes, emphasizing that it does not constitute forced layoffs or a downsizing effort.
According to the company, employees who choose not to participate in the voluntary retirement plan could be reassigned to regional offices. The program has been communicated to staff across all levels, from junior to senior positions, within the AI unit, which reportedly employs around 1,000 people. The spokesperson noted that the integration process involves streamlining overlapping functions, which may naturally lead to role transitions, organizational adjustments, or relocations for some team members.
The AI CIC unit is tasked with overseeing the development of SK Telecom’s personal AI assistant, known as A. (pronounced “A-dot”), along with managing AI data center operations, the enterprise AI business, and global AI partnerships and investments. While severance packages are expected to differ based on individual tenure and position, the company has not set specific internal targets for participation. Since the program is entirely voluntary, predicting its overall impact on the organization remains challenging at this stage.
This organizational shift occurs as SK Telecom works to enhance operational efficiency and sharpen its focus on artificial intelligence. The company has set an ambitious goal for the AI division to achieve annual revenue of approximately ₩5 trillion (about $3.5 billion) by 2030. Growth is anticipated to be driven by AI-powered B2C and B2B services, as well as related infrastructure developments.
Recently, SK Telecom launched an AI infrastructure initiative providing Nvidia Blackwell GPUs as a service. Additionally, the firm partnered with OpenAI earlier this month to develop AI data centers in southwestern Korea, a key component of the ‘Stargate Korea’ project. These efforts underscore the telecom giant’s strategic commitment to expanding its footprint in the competitive AI landscape.
(Source: TechCrunch)
