[MWC On-site] Vertical AI, 5G Advanced, Galaxy Ring... 3 Key Highlights

Specialized Vertical AI in Expert Fields Gains Attention
Seamless Cooperation Across Industries and Nations
Evolution of Wearable Devices Also Draws Interest

Excitement for the global telecommunications expo ‘MWC (Mobile World Congress) 2024’ is heating up in Barcelona, Spain. Ahead of the event’s opening, promotional materials and advertisements from participating companies were visible throughout the streets. Notably, a large outdoor advertisement promoting the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy AI was installed at the entrance of the Fira Gran Via exhibition center, where MWC is held. The Galaxy experience center set up at Pla?a de Catalunya, the heart of Barcelona, also attracted large crowds lining up to try it out.

On the 25th (local time), one day before the opening of the world's largest mobile telecommunications exhibition, Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024, citizens are lining up at the Samsung Electronics Galaxy Experience Zone set up near Catalonia Square in Barcelona, Spain. Photo by Joint Press Corps

This year, over 2,400 companies, including leading global big tech firms and top telecommunications operators worldwide, are participating to showcase a wide array of new technologies. At this MWC, network technologies aimed at integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into business models and realizing its full potential are expected to take center stage.

Pragmatic ‘Profitable AI’ Takes the Spotlight

The main theme of MWC 2024 is, unsurprisingly, artificial intelligence (AI). However, the focus is shifting from generative AI, like ChatGPT, which simply learns vast amounts of information to generate responses, to vertical AI. Vertical AI refers to pragmatic AI technologies specifically designed and optimized for particular industries or fields. To effectively integrate AI technology into real business applications and enhance user satisfaction, it must be specialized in sharp, expert domains.

Huawei, the largest sponsor of MWC, will showcase its proprietary AI model ‘Pangu.’ It is expected to introduce various industry-specific applications, including weather forecasting, finance, and mining. Huawei has prepared a massive exhibition hall of 9,000 square meters in the first hall of the exhibition center. SK Telecom is forming an alliance with leading global telecom operators to actively develop a ‘telecom-specialized large language model (Telco LLM).’ SK Telecom plans to develop a specialized LLM trained on telecom industry logic and knowledge to be used in new services, customer management, and marketing.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Discussions on Advanced 5G ‘5G Advanced’

This MWC is expected to reaffirm that innovation cannot be achieved by advancing technology in isolated areas alone. This aligns with the MWC 2024 theme, ‘Future First,’ which implies that realizing future potential requires collaboration beyond industrial and continental boundaries. Google has already embedded its AI model Gemini-based services into Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy S24 series, solidifying the partnership between the two companies. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is collaborating with telecom operators such as Vodafone to innovate customer experiences and expand business models.

No matter how advanced AI software technology becomes, it is useless without supporting network infrastructure. At this MWC, discussions will focus on ‘5G Advanced,’ an evolution of 5G technology and a wireless communication technology that precedes 6G, aimed at fast and seamless connectivity. U.S. semiconductor company AMD will unveil solutions integrating open RAN (open radio access network) technology, developed in cooperation with Samsung Electronics and Vodafone, with 5G Advanced and 6G AI into a single device. NTT Docomo is expected to showcase ‘Feel Tech’ technology, which enables sharing tactile and gustatory sensations with others. Feel Tech requires processing large amounts of data simultaneously and can be realized based on 6G networks.

Smart ring 'Galaxy Ring' image
[Photo by Samsung Electronics]

Wearable Devices Like ‘Galaxy Ring’ Make Their Debut

If smartphones were ‘computers in your hand,’ wearable devices are computers you wear. The era of smart wearables that connect to the internet simply by wearing them, without using hands, is arriving. Samsung Electronics plans to unveil the actual smart ring ‘Galaxy Ring,’ scheduled for release within the year, for the first time at this MWC. The Galaxy Ring can be comfortably worn even during sleep, and its inner surface wraps around the finger to enable detailed health measurements. For security reasons, it will be displayed inside a transparent acrylic case until its official release. Enhanced with AI technology, the Galaxy Ring is expected to provide more meticulous health management for users.

Meta will also showcase various wearable devices. Meta’s smart glasses can communicate in real time with its proprietary AI, Llama, and support live streaming on Instagram and Facebook. Meta is also expected to emphasize that its wearable device ‘Meta Quest 3,’ which connects the real and virtual worlds, is lighter and more affordable compared to Apple’s ‘Vision Pro.’ Xiaomi unveiled three wearable devices, including the ‘Xiaomi Watch 2,’ ahead of MWC.