SEOUL, South Korea,
Sept. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- KT
Corporation (KRX: 030200; NYSE: KT), South Korea's largest telecommunications
company, has introduced a smart robot food server, powered by its
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other latest technologies, at a
Seoul franchise of Mad for Garlic,
a major nationwide restaurant chain.
The AI robot server, is equipped with state-of-the-art software
that features 3D spatial mapping and self-driving. The programming,
developed by KT's Institute of Convergence Technology, enables the
smart robot to maneuver between and around tables and chairs to
serve customers ordering food at the restaurant.
Korea's leading telecom company is developing various future AI
robots as part of efforts to transform itself into the world's No.
1 ICT platform company after new CEO Ku
Hyeon-Mo took office in March this year. It pioneered a new
era in smart hospitality by offering AI-assisted room services at
Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences, owned
by its subsidiary, KT Real Estate Inc., in 2018.
"KT is bringing AI closer to the lives of our customers with the
release of its first hotel robots last year, second-generation
hotel robots this year, and now a new AI serving robot developed
for the food and beverage business area," said Kim Chae-Hee, head of KT's AI/Big Data business
division. "We will continue to contribute to improving their
quality of life with our advanced AI and Big Data
technologies."
KT and MFG Korea, the parent of the Italian bistro chain, expect
food-serving robots will be a welcome way to reduce
person-to-person contact amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The
robots also would help give restaurant employees more time to tend
to specific customer needs, boosting their efficiency and
productivity.
The AI robot server is 1.25 meters tall, 50 centimeters wide and
battery powered. The design emphasizes stability as the robot moves
at up to 1.5 meters per second carrying four fully loaded trays and
little vibration when stopping to prevent spills.
MFG Korea is expected to develop various customer scenarios
during the pilot service and study the possibility of nationwide
deployment of the next AI-equipped restaurant robot that KT is
developing.
KT introduced its commercial 5G network service through an
AI-equipped robot named Lota in December
2018 before launching the world's first nationwide 5G
network in March 2019. It is also
deploying autonomous carts using 5G connectivity at its smartphone
warehouses starting May.
KT began to commercialize its AI robotics segment with its GiGA
Genie Hotel service robots in December
2019. A second-generation GiGA Genie Hotel with enhanced
capabilities and functions went into service in April this
year.
GiGA Genie Hotel is a multi-functional, voice-recognizing
infotainment system capable of smart room controls and delivery of
toiletries and other supplies. It is a customization of GiGA Genie,
the world's first AI-powered smart home media hub developed by
KT.
The second-generation GiGA Genie Hotel, dubbed "N Bot," is an
upgrade in design and function. The AI robot can operate in both
Korean and English for items such as towels and bottled water and
get on and off elevators on its own for room deliveries. Other
languages, including Chinese and Japanese, will be added.
MEDIA CONTACTS
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ABOUT KT CORPORATION (KRX: 030200; NYSE: KT)
KT Corp., Korea's largest telecommunications service provider,
is leading the new era of innovations in one of the world's most
connected countries with 5G, Big Data, Cloud, IoT, Blockchain and
other transformative technologies. KT launched the world's first
nationwide commercial 5G network in April
2019, after showcasing the first trial 5G services at the
PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games in February
2018. To help cope with COVID-19, KT is staging a social
campaign, dubbed "Ma-Eum:TACT (Heart to Heart)," providing
technology supports for people and businesses in need. KT will
deliver most essential and innovative services and solutions to its
customers around the world as the first frontier in the next
technology revolution and number one Global ICT Company.
* For more information,
please visit our English website at https://corp.kt.com/eng/
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SOURCE KT Corp.