Tech firms double down on voice AI as next battleground emerges

As global tech giants race to redefine voice as the next major interface for artificial intelligence (AI), local tech and telecom firms are also accelerating efforts to secure an edge in the domain with Korean-language optimized AI services and multimodal technologies. The rapid shift comes as global companies, including Google, Apple, Microsoft and Meta move to embed voice into AI agents and connected devices, enabling systems that can understand context, execute tasks and interact naturally with users across devices and environments. Google recently introduced Gemini Intelligence, a new AI feature on Android powered by its Gemini AI agent technology, at its Android Show: I/O Edition earlier this month. Unlike earlier voice assistants that were largely limited to short commands such as setting alarms, the new system is designed to automate multistep tasks, including reservations, shopping and food orders across applications. Apple is also expected to unveil a significantly upgraded version of Siri at its upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference next month. The new Siri is anticipated t