KT CEO Kim Young-shub, left, shakes hands with Palantir CEO Alex Karp after signing a strategic partnership in the United States, Wednesday (local time). Courtesy of KT

KT has signed a strategic partnership with data processing giant Palantir Technologies for the artificial intelligence (AI) transformation business, the Korean telecom company said Thursday.

KT CEO Kim Young-shub and Palantir CEO Alex Karp signed the partnership in the United States on Wednesday (local time), with the former becoming the first Korean company to join the Worldwide Partner Ecosystem, a network of business and technology partner companies of Palantir.

Palantir, an S&P 500 company, develops software platforms that support decision-making processes of governments and businesses through large-scale data integration and analysis. Based on its world-class security technology, the company's platforms optimize AI systems in real-world operational environments. The company also gained global attention as its stock price soared 279 percent over the last year, benefiting from the current hype around generative AI.

Through this partnership, KT and Palantir will collaborate on business ventures in the Korean AI transformation market. KT also plans to integrate Palantir's software into its operations, applying it to various projects to enhance business quality and optimize operational processes.

KT will combine its cloud and network infrastructure with Palantir's core AI solutions to provide services optimized for the Korean market. The two sides will particularly focus on industries such as finance, where security and regulatory compliance are critical.

KT plans to enable clients using KT Secure Public Cloud, which offers enhanced security compared to public clouds, to run Palantir solutions in a fully secured environment.

The two companies will also jointly develop Palantir's AIP Bootcamp for the Korean market. AIP Bootcamp is a hands-on training program designed to help understand Palantir solutions. AIP Bootcamp was conducted 1,300 times in the U.S. last year, and the two companies plan to adapt it to the Korean market, offering domestic customers the opportunity to experience Palantir's solutions.

Along with those collaborations, KT plans to execute joint projects with Palantir's global engineers, with the latter providing training for KT employees.

“I am confident that the strategic partnership between Palantir, with its unique technological capabilities and differentiated solutions, and KT, with its extensive consulting expertise and know-how, will be a win-win for both companies,” KT CEO Kim said.

“Through this strategic partnership, we will leap forward as Korea's leading AI transformation accelerator having overwhelming competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.”

Palantir CEO Karp said he is proud to provide the essential technological infrastructure to support major companies in Korea through the partnership with KT, and the two companies will accelerate the innovation of partners in the country.