SK Telecom launches new Korean language model to boost AI independence
- SK Telecom has developed a new language model entirely in-house, focusing on Korean language applications.
- A.X 3.1 Lite demonstrates strong performance in various AI benchmarks, proving competitive with larger models.
- The launch of this model is part of South Korea's broader strategy for technological independence from foreign reliance.
In South Korea, SK Telecom recently introduced A.X 3.1 Lite, a 7-billion-parameter language model developed entirely in-house. The model, focused on serving Korean users, was trained on 1.65 trillion multilingual tokens with a strong emphasis on Korean content. By utilizing their TITAN supercomputers, SK Telecom maintained control over all aspects of the model development process, from initial tokenizer design to final inference capabilities. This self-sufficient approach reflects a national strategy aimed at reducing the reliance on foreign technology and enhancing Korea's capabilities in the AI sector. The performance of A.X 3.1 Lite has shown promising results across various benchmarks. For instance, on the KMMLU multitask reasoning benchmark, it achieved a score of 61.7, representing approximately 96% of the performance of SK Telecom's larger A.X 4.0 Lite model. Furthermore, in the CLIcK cultural intelligence test, A.X 3.1 Lite surpassed its larger counterpart with a score of 71.22 compared to 69.97. On the KoBALT-700 quality assurance benchmark, it scored 27.43, which is competitive among larger models, showcasing its efficiency despite being smaller in size. This innovation allows Korean organizations to select between the fast, efficient A.X 3.1 Lite for everyday applications or the more powerful A.X 4 series, all while retaining their vendor. Such advancements in AI reflect South Korea's broader strategy to foster technological independence and build tools that embrace its local language and culture, aligning with similar initiatives observed in other countries such as France. The successful launch of A.X 3.1 Lite mirrors a growing trend in developing sovereign AI models. As nations increasingly strive for autonomy in technology, this release serves as a testament to South Korea's commitment to nurturing in-house technology solutions without relying heavily on foreign models. The implication of A.X 3.1 Lite's performance and capabilities indicates a shift in the landscape of AI development, aiming to provide responsive and contextually aware tools tailored to the needs of Korean users.