[Consumerwide_Jinil Kang Reporter / Yohan Bok Reporter] Would it be possible to provide a safe virtual metabus service where one can fully enjoy studying and learning English without having any risk of cyberbullying and offensive advertising? LGUplus says yes. LGUplus has hosted a press release metabus product demonstration presentation at a seminar hall in Gwangwhamun, Seoul, on the 23rd. While introducing a new English version of metabus KidsTopia, which applied Generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology, LGUplus has shared their vision for the global market.

KidsTopia is a core-platform of U+3.0 and is a child-specialized metabus service designed so that children can enjoy studying along with AI characters in a 3D virtual space. Following the launch of KidsTopia in the domestic market in March, LGUplus is planning on expanding the service area from North America including the US and Canada, and Malaysia to the rest of Asia (Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam), Oceania (Australia, New Zealand), South America (Argentina, Brazil), and Europe region. The renewed version of KidsTopia covers from ordinary conversation, between AI characters and users, to encyclopedia-based knowledge learning and quizzes on animals, including dinosaurs, all in English. Using this method, non-English speaking users can easily learn English, while English-speaking users enjoy learning through play under the metabolic system.

Kim Mingu, the Chief officer of LGUplus Web3.0/Metabus service development Lab, said, "We've been testing and proving unique user experience of fun study through conversation with AI characters and various experiments in virtual metabus space for children's customers in the domestic market. Furthermore, we are aiming to approach the global market with our new product, which has a capacity to provide an innovative metabus user experience for our child customers, and stabilize a new category platform, "Kids Metabus".

█ Capable of communicating while carrying out ordinary conversation

Defining personas through a large language model. Afterwards, generating characters according to the particular persona based on a large language model, learning in cooperation with Inworld AI. Generative AI is a technology that supports natural and continual conversation along with a function to generate an AI NPC (Non Player Character, which the computer controls over the character) based on various persona data. KidsTopia has cooperated with Inworld AI company, an American AI specialized business, in order to apply the Generative AI to the system. Earlier, "LG Technology Ventures", which is a business focused venture capital funded by LG affiliated companies including LGUplus, invested in Inworld AI. Inworld AI generates an AI NPC according to the persona that responds to the actions of user characters in virtual space. Character personas are defined by the LLM learning process, in which a persona aims to perform the character of man along with a conversation. In particular, it can carry out beyond information research, but perform emotional conversations upon its persona based on GPT of Open AI business. Inworld AI is planning on proving this new technology with LGUplus as they begin applying generative AI technology to metabus service for the first time.

You can encounter a total of four types of AI NPC, which are Yuppi, Pinky, Cony, which are the three main characters of A-i-deul-na-ra, and Holeman, one of the popular characters of LGUplus, in KidsTopia. Yuppi takes users from the main square to various activities and experimental spaces, while Pinky offers customized quizzes in each experimental space. Cony takes the role of creating the stories based on the conversation (English version) or last letter game (Korean version). Holeman translates words or sentences into English in the Korean version, and hosts a twenty question game in the English version. LGUplus is handling the words that are spoken through AI characters concerning children customers. In particular, AI characters won't use longer than two sentences while using elementary level words and expressing positive emotions without slang.

█  Expanding two experimental spaces... "English town" where one can enjoy English conversation according to different situation settings, "Fishing space" for sea life knowledge learning.

LGUplus has been consulting with the children's education consulting business while continually hosting Focus group interviews, research, and experimental groups for enhancement of the service since their domestic version release. Furthermore, LGU is planning on adding two spaces, which are "English town", where one can practice English conversations, and "Fishing space" for learning knowledge about sea life, upon their former experiences in July.

Firstly, an English town is a space where one can practice English while talking freely in different settings, which involves purchase of goods, ordinary conversation, and Q and A, along with AI NPC including the store staff and local people in town. This space also has applied feedback from parents wanting to provide a space where children can study in a natural learning condition. Children users who enjoy collecting things can build up information about sea life in neighbouring seas of Korea in the "Fishing space" through fishing activities and encyclopedia dictionary-based data. Besides, LGU is strengthening the UI and UX of the service. AI conversation use rate has been increased to 200% by strengthening AI response speed, rate of recognition, and user experience. Not only so, the rate of securing early membership has improved at 60% by adjusting the child's user environment, mission and reward system, and metabus service user guide. LGUplus is aiming to enhance User Retention Rate and Time On Site by improving the user environment through constant feedback about pain points from customers' point of view based on data, while continually expanding new content. Apart from that, LGU is preparing to apply LLM (Large Language Model) and various generative AI technology including image and music.

Won Sungkwan, a team leader of LGUplus Metabus project said, "KidsTopia educates children through study, quiz, and mission accomplishment. This means that our children can have fun while studying. Children customers can make 10 thousand types of unique Ababa characters combining various elements, and they can connect to new friends and communicate with them freely. We are trying to set up a safe virtual environment by removing offensive middle advertisements and cyberbullying so that parents can trust KidsTopia regarding their children. Furthermore, we will strive to provide an innovative user experience for global children's customers."