LG Uplus announced on the 25th that it is launching a new English version of its children-focused metaverse service, ‘KidsTopia,’ which incorporates generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology, marking its entry into the global market.
KidsTopia, first introduced domestically in March, is a children-specialized metaverse service where users can enjoy learning with AI characters in a 3D virtual experience space, and it is a core platform of U+3.0. LG Uplus plans to initially expand into North America, including the United States and Canada, as well as Malaysia, and by the end of the year, extend the service to Asia (Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Myanmar, Philippines), Oceania (Australia, New Zealand), South America (Brazil, Argentina), and Europe.
An LG Uplus model introducing the English version of 'Kidstopia,' equipped with generative AI technology. [Photo by LG Uplus]
Demand for metaverse services is increasing worldwide. According to global market research firm Precedence Research, the global metaverse market size is expected to grow from $68.5 billion (approximately 89.872 trillion KRW) in 2022 at an average annual growth rate of 44.5%, reaching $1.3 trillion (approximately 1,705.6 trillion KRW) by 2030.
Although growth expectations are high, overseas metaverse services are mainly game-centered. KidsTopia has received positive responses from domestic customers by offering an active learning method that combines fun and education along with AI-based conversational experiences. It is expected to captivate global children customers by creating the unique metaverse value of ‘building a world spontaneously created through user participation and communication’ in the global market as well.
The newly revamped KidsTopia allows users to engage in natural conversations with AI characters, acquire knowledge based on encyclopedias about animals and dinosaurs, and take quizzes?all available in English. Non-English-speaking countries, including Korea, can naturally learn English through conversations, while English-speaking countries can enjoy a metaverse that blends play and learning.
Kim Mingu, Head of LG Uplus Web 3.0/Metaverse Service Development Lab, said, “We have verified a unique user experience in the domestic market where children customers enjoy various experiences in a virtual metaverse space and learn enjoyably through conversations with AI characters. We will expand this to the global market and establish it as a new category platform called ‘Kids Metaverse,’ revolutionizing metaverse usage experiences for children worldwide.”
Collaboration with INWORLD AI... AI NPC and Twenty Questions Game
The generative AI embedded in KidsTopia sets various personas to create AI NPCs (Non-Player Characters controlled by the computer) and enables natural continuous conversations. To apply this technology, LG Uplus collaborated with the U.S.-based AI specialist company INWORLD AI. Previously, LG Technology Ventures, LG Group’s corporate venture capital jointly funded by LG Uplus and other LG affiliates, invested in INWORLD AI.
INWORLD AI trains personality traits and conversational styles in large language models (LLM) to set character personas and generates persona-specific AI NPCs that directly respond to user character actions within the virtual space. Based on OpenAI’s GPT, it is characterized by enabling not only information retrieval but also emotional conversations tailored to the persona. This is the first time INWORLD AI is applying generative AI technology to a metaverse service, and it plans to verify the technology together with LG Uplus.
In KidsTopia, users can meet four AI NPCs: the main characters of ‘Idulnara’?‘Yuppi,’ ‘Pinky,’ and ‘Cony’?and LG Uplus’s popular character ‘Holman.’ Yuppi, who always accompanies users, guides various activities and experience spaces in the main plaza and freely converses anytime. Pinky provides customized quizzes for each experience space. Cony creates stories through conversations in the English version and plays word chain games in the Korean version. Holman translates words or sentences into English in the Korean version and conducts the Twenty Questions game in the English version. LG Uplus tailored the AI characters’ conversations to the level of elementary school vocabulary, limiting responses to a maximum of two sentences, and set them to avoid expressing negative emotions such as profanity, considering the primary user group of children.
Expanding Experience Spaces for English Conversation Practice and Marine Life Knowledge Acquisition
Since launching the domestic version, LG Uplus has continuously conducted focus group interviews (FGI), surveys, and user trials to enhance the service, while consulting with children’s education experts. Based on this, KidsTopia plans to add new spaces in July: ‘English Village,’ where users can practice English conversations in various scenarios, and a ‘Fishing’ space to acquire knowledge about marine life.
English Village is a space where users can freely converse with AI NPCs such as shop clerks and residents within the village, practicing English through activities like purchasing items, casual daily conversations, and Q&A. This reflects parents’ desire for a space where their children can naturally learn English. The Fishing space, alongside English Village, caters to children who enjoy collection elements by providing knowledge about marine life near Korean waters. Users can fish in the sea and obtain encyclopedia-based information about the caught fish.
LG Uplus is also continuously strengthening the service UI/UX. AI response speed, recognition rate, and user experience have been enhanced, resulting in more than a 200% increase in AI conversation usage. Improvements such as metaverse service usage guides, a reward system for completing missions, and a child-friendly environment have increased initial subscriber retention rates by 60%. LG Uplus plans to analyze customers based on data, improve the usage environment, and continuously expand new content to increase dwell time and retention rates. Furthermore, it intends to introduce various generative AI technologies, including not only large language models but also image and music generation technologies in the future.
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