SK Networks Holds AI Forum with Kindred Ventures and SoftBank Ventures

Over 150 Industry Insiders Participate

SK Networks announced on the 8th that it successfully concluded ‘AI WAVE 2023’ held at the Walkerhill Hotel & Resort Wavehill. The event, organized by Kindred Ventures and conducted in joint cooperation with SK Networks and SoftBank Ventures, was attended by over 150 industry stakeholders including domestic and international startups and investors.

On the 7th, the three host companies introduced trends and investment strategies in the AI field. The event also featured investor relations (IR) sessions from global tech startups such as Purple City, a conversational search engine development startup, and OurOne, a generative video AI company.

Steve Jang, CEO of Kindred Ventures, Choi Sung-hwan, President of SK Networks Business Division, and Lee Jun-pyo, CEO of SoftBank Ventures, are continuing a conversation about AI trends.
[Photo by SK Networks]

Choi Seong-hwan, Head of Business at SK Networks, introduced the company’s transformation linked to partnerships and investments in the AI sector. Since 2020, SK Networks has continuously invested through its U.S. investment entity ‘Hyko Capital’ in large-scale data center funds as well as AI-based device startups like Humane, autonomous tractor solution company Savanto, and smart farm startup Source.ag.

At the event, a video demonstration of the ‘AI Pin’ by Humane, an AI-based device and software platform startup invested in by Kindred Ventures and SK Networks, was also presented. Imran Choudhry, co-founder of Humane, showcased the AI Pin, a wristwatch screen-sized device that integrates proprietary AI and open-source AI models. Starting with the activation of the screen via a laser emitted from the AI Pin when the palm is brought close, various functions were demonstrated including making calls and sending texts through voice and touch, AI-powered email summarization, real-time translation of conversations in English and Spanish, and providing calorie information upon food recognition.

SK Networks plans to continue hosting such events to share future industrial transformation directions with investment partners and foster mutual growth.

An SK Networks representative emphasized, “As a business-type investment company, we will strengthen our highly competitive investment portfolio and accelerate the innovation speed of our existing businesses to enhance corporate value and shareholder value.”