South Korea rolls out AI voice robots at Incheon Airport, aims free chatbot

Selvas AI teamed with robot maker Clobot to embed its on‑device "Selvas Trigger" voice interface into more than 20 Airstar guide robots operating at Incheon International Airport. Users can activate the robot with the wake word "Airstar" to receive spoken navigation, gate directions and facility information without touching a screen, while the on‑device processing reduces latency and protects data.

Separately, South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT announced a government‑backed project to launch a domestically developed, free AI chatbot by the end of the year. The service, part of an "AI for All" initiative aimed at reducing reliance on foreign platforms such as ChatGPT, will later evolve into personalized AI agents that can assist with tasks ranging from asset management to learning support. Officials said, "If we want users to give up foreign AI services, we must provide better quality."