SKT Launches Pilot Project for Frailty Prevention in Seniors Using AI Speaker-Based System

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] SK Telecom, together with Pyeongchang County, Professor Jang Il-young's research team from the Department of Geriatrics at Seoul Asan Medical Center, and others, is launching a pilot project to prevent frailty among the elderly using the AI speaker ‘NUGU’.

On the 4th, SK Telecom announced that it signed a business agreement with Pyeongchang County, the Department of Geriatrics at Seoul Asan Medical Center (Professor Jang Il-young's research team), Happy Connect, and GL Research Institute to improve the health and quality of life of elderly residents in Pyeongchang County.

Based on this business agreement, the participating organizations and companies plan to provide ‘AI care services’ to elderly residents in Pyeongchang County and conduct a pilot project for frailty prevention aimed at improving sarcopenia and nutritional imbalance through exercise and dietary therapy.

Frailty refers to an abnormally accelerated aging process, indicating a vulnerable state where health reserves are reduced, making it easy for health to deteriorate even from minor illnesses. It is commonly accompanied by sarcopenia, dementia, and falls, and is an important geriatric condition requiring prevention and management.

In this pilot project, Professor Jang Il-young's team at Seoul Asan Medical Center will support the overall design and operation of the elderly care guidance program together with GL Research Institute. Additionally, SK Telecom and Happy Connect plan to develop an AI-based frailty prevention program based on the pilot service results. Elderly participants will be assessed for frailty levels and receive recommendations for exercise, diet, and cognitive learning according to the AI frailty prevention program.

SK Telecom has previously provided cognitive (Brain Tok Tok), emotional (music and emotional conversations), and safety (emergency SOS service) services for the elderly based on the AI speaker ‘NUGU’, and through this pilot project, it will add and expand services in the field of frailty prevention.