Developed with the aim of aiding the elderly living alone in a rapidly aging society, SK Telecom’s AI care service offers a range of features, including information delivery, schedule management, cognitive enhancement, and emergency response capabilities. (Image courtesy of SKT)
SEOUL, May 7 (Korea Bizwire) —SK Telecom’s AI-based emergency rescue service has been actively responding to calls for assistance. On Sunday, the telecom giant announced that the cumulative number of emergency rescue interventions linked to its ‘Emergency SOS’ service, which is powered by its AI speaker NUGU, has exceeded 500.
Developed with the aim of aiding the elderly living alone in a rapidly aging society, SK Telecom’s AI care service offers a range of features, including information delivery, schedule management, cognitive enhancement, and emergency response capabilities.
Currently available to approximately 17,000 elderly people under the care of 93 local governments and institutions nationwide, the service enables users to call 119 or the control center for help in emergency situations using simple phrases such as “Aria, help me” or “Aria, urgent SOS”.
Since its launch in April 2019, the ‘Emergency SOS’ feature has received around 6,000 calls, and more than 500 of those calls have resulted in emergency dispatches, according to SK Telecom.
Of the 500 emergency calls, 52 percent were related to medical emergencies such as cerebral hemorrhages, low blood pressure, acute abdominal pain, and acute headaches, 25 percent were due to worsening medical conditions such as asthma, high blood pressure, and herniated discs, while 20 percent were related to accidents such as falls and slips that occurred in daily life.
SK Telecom’s AI-Powered Emergency Rescue Service Reaches Over 500 Interventions
Most of the calls, approximately 74 percent, were received during the evening and early morning hours, when it is difficult to seek help from others. Additionally, 19 percent of the emergency calls were made during the fall (September and October).
SK Telecom’s AI care service is also equipped with a feature that analyzes negative language expressions such as isolation and depression and connects users with visiting nurses or psychologists. Over the past three years, the telecom company has provided approximately 800 psychological counseling sessions, contributing significantly to the emotional well-being of care recipients.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
