SK Telecom Launches AI Interpreter for Foreign Shoppers... Lotte Department Store Adopts It

Launch of 'Trend Talker' Supporting 13 Languages
Speak in a Foreign Language and the Guide Responds
Start of B2B Simultaneous Interpretation Service

SK Telecom announced on the 22nd the launch of 'TransTalker,' an artificial intelligence (AI) simultaneous interpretation solution supporting 13 languages. It is expected to be useful for foreign tourists visiting Korea when shopping, using public transportation, or visiting hotels, government offices, tourist attractions, and restaurants.

The languages supported by TransTalker include Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Spanish, and a total of 13 languages, with additional languages to be supported in the future.

When a foreign tourist asks a question in their language into a microphone installed in front of a transparent screen, the translated sentence in Korean is displayed on the screen of the information desk staff. Then, when the staff answers in Korean, the content is converted in real-time into the tourist's language and appears on the monitor.

TransTalker consists of a transparent LED display, a 'directional microphone' that minimizes surrounding noise, and a PC. It was developed in collaboration with AI specialist company Konan Technology.

Lotte Department Store signed a contract with SKT to introduce the solution to enhance shopping convenience for foreigners and installed TransTalker at the information desks on the first floor of AvenueL Jamsil and the basement first floor of Lotte World Mall. SKT plans to secure various corporate clients requiring simultaneous interpretation services.

SKT explained that TransTalker can be used not only in public transportation, hotels, government offices, tourist attractions, shopping malls, and restaurants frequently visited by foreigners but also in general companies. For example, companies with overseas branches can install only the solution and microphone on their work computers and conduct meetings using simultaneous interpretation on the computer screen in connection with remote meeting solutions.

SKT plans to release a self-built IT infrastructure-based model for companies and public institutions emphasizing security and also develop an on-device AI interpretation solution.

Shin Yong-sik, Head of SKT Enterprise AI CO (Vice President), said, "We plan to introduce a service that operates and manages the solution on behalf of small businesses so that they can adopt the solution at a low cost in the future."