As the first company, let's interview and hear the story of Persona AI (CEO Seung-jae Yoo), who makes the appropriate technology for artificial intelligence.

When I entered Persona AI's company, the atmosphere was very quiet. As it is a technology-oriented company, everyone was concentrating on development, and I went into the conference room and was able to meet and talk with CEO Yoo Seung-jae.

Until 2015, artificial intelligence was in its infancy, and most of the technologies used in Korea were imported from abroad. At that time, CEO Yoo Seung-jae saw IBM's 'Watson AI' and asked, 'Why do foreign companies make Korean? I thought, ‘Isn’t there any native AI?’, so we started researching and developing an artificial intelligence conversation engine in 2015. will start

Persona AI's solutions are being delivered to financial companies such as banks and insurance companies, and in particular, chatbots and callbots have developed services that can solve many of the existing banking tasks.

-There are a lot of AI companies these days, but what is the difference?

There are many artificial intelligence companies in Korea and they are providing ‘language’ related services through artificial intelligence. However, 'Cloud AICC' is the only service that has been automated in the form of a cloud so that it can be used easily.

In addition, it made the original engine itself and released the 'embedded AI semiconductor' that can be mounted on any H/W. Above all, I am most proud and grateful that all the core members of the early founding are working together.

- What vision does the company have?

Lincoln, who dedicated his life to freedom and equality, is my idol. As in his famous words, ‘I will do politics of the people, by the people, and for the people’, I have the ambition of ‘I will provide services of AI, by AI, and through AI’. Currently, many efforts are being made to build an AI ecosystem, and through this, Persona AI has a vision of 'Optimal AI', that is, 'a vision to create a truly usable AI'.

No matter how good a technology is, if the user is uncomfortable and useless, it will be difficult to develop further. Although AI is a very difficult field of technology, I want to devote my whole life to continuous research and development so that the service actually provided becomes a convenient and useful service for users.

- What are your short-term goals?

Currently, the company's business division is divided into three ABC units. AI unit, business unit, and cloud unit. The short-term goal is to focus on the growth of the cloud unit. I recently received a Series B investment from Lindman, and during this time, naturally, there was a lot of interest in the company and its products in Switzerland and the United States.

Just like Zoom, famous for video conferencing, tried to acquire a cloud AICC company called five9 in the United States for $16 trillion, the value of Cloud AICC is very high in relation to DT of all companies, so I think our business will get a lot of attention at home and abroad.

- How would you describe Persona AI in one word?

I want to be a company that creates appropriate technologies for artificial intelligence. A lot of artificial intelligence is emerging, but there are very few artificial intelligences that can really be used. Technology is not important, but I want to create an AI service that anyone can use easily so that many people can enjoy the benefits of AI.

For example, we have attached a phone to an AI kiosk so that when the elderly are wandering, the phone rings and when the phone rings, AI guides them to the insurance claim service and guidance service. Continue to monitor and help while being used

We thought it was wrong to have the elderly study to use the kiosk. It is a very traditional method, but it is a product that we are proud of as an example of ‘making it usable’.

Reporter Seo Hee-won (shw@etnews.com)