[MWC26] LG Uplus CEO Hong Beomsik Delivers Keynote: "Voice AI IXIO Will Be the Core of Future Communication"

Emphasizing the Value of Voice in the AI Era
"Voice AI Agents Will Be the Core of Future Communication"

Hong Beomsik, CEO of LG Uplus, delivered the opening keynote speech at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026, the world's largest mobile exhibition. During his address, CEO Hong introduced the artificial intelligence (AI) call agent 'IXIO,' emphasizing that it will be developed into a voice-based AI agent.

On March 2, 2026 (local time), at the opening ceremony of MWC26 held at Fira Gran Via exhibition center in Barcelona, Spain, CEO Hong took the podium as the keynote speaker and stated, "An evolved voice agent that understands me deeply and even takes responsibility for the safety of my daily life will become the core of future communication." Not only is he the first CEO of LG Uplus to deliver an official keynote at MWC, but also the first among LG Group leaders to do so.

Hong Beomsik, CEO of LG Uplus, is delivering the keynote speech at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026 held at Fira Gran Via Exhibition Hall in Barcelona, Spain, on March 2, 2026 (local time). Photo by Kang Jinhyung

CEO Hong’s keynote speech focused on the theme of "Human-Centered AI." He shared a personal story of receiving a call from his son living abroad, who informed him that he had become a grandfather, and remarked, "When sharing meaningful moments, there is no better way to connect people than a phone call."

He also explained the background behind LG Uplus’s development of IXIO. CEO Hong said, "Despite numerous technological innovations, the calling experience has remained nearly unchanged, and at some point, phone calls became inconvenient. We have embarked on a journey with the AI call agent to make voice, once again, the essential means of connecting people."

He further emphasized IXIO’s evolving role as an AI agent, stating, "Up until now, it was an AI assistant that required human commands, but from now on, it will understand the context of conversations and proactively identify tasks to accomplish on its own."

CEO Hong stressed that voice-based AI agents will become the center of the future AI era. He said, "In an age where countless devices such as smart glasses, wearable devices, AI agents, and even physical AI emerge, voice will become the central interface."

He also highlighted the importance of collaborating with global telecommunications companies for voice-based AI. CEO Hong concluded his keynote by saying, "What we are striving to build is a new global standard for AI that is for everyone. I believe that if the telecom companies gathered here today continue to collaborate, they can become global AI leaders delivering better customer experiences in voice communication."

Meanwhile, in addition to CEO Hong Beomsik, the keynote speakers included John Stankey, CEO of AT&T; Cristiano Amon, CEO of Qualcomm; and Justin Hotard, CEO of Nokia. CEO Hong’s keynote was broadcast live through the GSMA’s official live streaming channel.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.