LG Uplus eyes $300 mil. in AI revenue with partnership with Google

LG Uplus CEO Hong Bum-shik speaks during a press conference at MWC 2025 in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday (local time). Courtesy of LG Uplus

LG Uplus CEO Hong Bum-shik revealed the company’s mid-term plan to generate $300 million in revenue through its artificial intelligence (AI) partnership with Google, praising the collaboration as a testament to Google's recognition of LG Uplus’ AI service potential in the global market.

During a press conference Tuesday (local time) at MWC 2025, an annual trade show, Hong said the two companies’ partnership signed a day earlier will serve as a launch pad for LG Uplus’ AI call agent ixi-O to evolve as an “actionable AI” capable of precision analysis, summary and recommendation.

Under the partnership, LG Uplus plans to enhance functions of ixi-O by using Google Cloud’s Gemini AI model. Ixi-O will use Gemini to analyze call contexts more precisely, improving features such as context-based call summaries and recommended actions.

“Google approached us to combine its AI model Gemini with the ixi-O and expand into overseas markets," Hong said. “The goal set by both companies is to achieve approximately $300 million in revenue through this partnership by 2028, starting this year.”

LG Uplus secured approximately 170,000 subscribers at the end of last year, just a month after its launch in November. The telecom initially released only Apple's iOS version and introduced the Android version following the partnership agreement.

“Google typically develops technology and receives a share of the revenue when its partner sells the product,” Hong said. “However, it is a rare case for Google to approach for collaboration with a go-to-market strategy like this one. It seems that Google sees potential in combining its technology with the ixi-O to expand into the global market.”

Hong also noted that there was noteworthy progress in its ongoing talks for collaboration with Amazon Web Service (AWS) over AI cloud business during MWC 2025, saying, “We will be able to provide more details soon.”

According to Hong, AWS and LG Uplus began their talks amid the former’s search for partners in Korea, and the cloud service giant proposed collaboration opportunities in three fields: sovereign AI, AI contact center and AI technology consulting.

Hong was appointed LG Uplus CEO in December, and the press conference marked his first 100 days in the position.

“LG Uplus has been leading innovation as the world’s first mobile carrier to provide a nationwide LTE network and successfully commercializing 5G network,” Hong said. “Based on our solid fundamentals, we will focus on human-centered AI and lead new changes in the telecommunications and AI markets as an agenda setter.”