SEOUL, South Korea — In an ambitious move to foster a more inclusive smart city environment, the Seoul AI Foundation, a dedicated entity under the Seoul Metropolitan Government, has announced the grand launch of a revolutionary new conversational AI agent service, "Talk-and-Done" (말하면척척, Malhaemyon Cheokcheok), scheduled for August 14, 2026. This pioneering service is specifically designed to provide crucial digital support to older citizens and other groups often designated as "digital weaklings" or "digital underdogs," empowering them to access essential mobile services that have become increasingly complex and central to daily life.
The core objective of "Talk-and-Done" is to eliminate the overwhelming requirement for multiple taps, screen navigations, and intricate inputs that define modern app user interfaces—processes that often create impassable barriers for seniors. Instead of asking users to adapt to sophisticated technology, "Talk-and-Done" adapts technology to the simplest human interaction: natural language. By allowing users to speak their requests, such as "Find the fastest route to the hospital" or "Book a taxi to Seoul Station," the AI agent takes over, assuming the responsibility for operating the smartphone app on the user's behalf.
This innovative approach is a direct response to a persistent and deeply entrenched problem: the digital divide among age groups and abilities in South Korea, one of the most technologically advanced nations on the planet. The Seoul AI Foundation has recognized that while Seoul has a highly developed infrastructure for mobile services, a significant portion of its population, particularly those in the 65-and-over demographic, struggles to keep pace. The data is clear: complex user interfaces, small text, and a lack of familiarity with digital conventions lead to high rates of user error and frustration. For seniors, the simple act of navigating to a hospital or connecting with family can become a daunting and isolating challenge, directly impacting their quality of life.
The unique and transformative power of "Talk-and-Done" lies in its advanced generative AI technology. While existing voice assistants like Apple's Siri, Google's Assistant, and Samsung's Bixby can understand and execute a limited set of native OS commands (like setting an alarm), they notoriously struggle to operate third-party applications. These systems typically fail when asked to complete multi-step workflows within private apps, which has been the primary source of frustration for users of existing services. The "Talk-and-Done" agent, however, is a sophisticated 'screen-reading' agent. It doesn't rely on pre-programmed APIs or code modifications for each app; instead, it uses advanced large language model (LLM) capabilities to interpret the actual visual elements and flow of any screen, much like a human would.
For example, when a user says, "Order a beef soup for lunch from Baedal-ui-Minjok," the AI first activates the 'Baedal-ui-Minjok' food delivery app. Then, it uses its visual understanding to locate and click on the 'Menu' button, searches for the key term, and progresses through the entire ordering sequence—right down to placing the items in the cart and initiating the final order page for the user to confirm. This eliminates dozens of taps and decision points for the user. Similarly, it can operate other essential services that have previously been out of reach for many:
• Transportation: "Call a Kakao T taxi to pick me up at home and take me to Dongdaemun Market." The AI understands and executes the ride-hailing process.
• Medical Care: "Find the wheel-chair accessible route to Seoul St. Mary's Hospital on the Seoul Donghaengmap." The agent navigates the city's complex accessible transportation app.
• Community: "Reserve a spot in the 'Smartphone Basics for Seniors' class at the Seoul Digital Donghaeng Plaza." The AI handles the entire registration workflow.
• Entertainment: "Play the latest video from 'Lim Young-woong' on YouTube." It finds the video, clicks, and starts the playback.
• Administrative Services: "Tell me the timetable for the next train heading to Busan from Seoul Station." The agent accesses KORAIL's official app for real-time data.
"Talk-and-Done" launches with full, seamless support for an initial cohort of nine high-impact public and private applications. The list includes major platforms such as Kakao T (taxi-hailing), Baedal-ui-Minjok (food delivery), YouTube (entertainment), and Korailtalk (national rail booking), alongside essential civic services like the Seoul Donghaengmap (accessible maps and transportation for those with disabilities), Seoul Digital Donghaeng Plaza (community education and resources), Seoul 장애인 콜택시 (Specialized Taxi for the Disabled), and the 'Tota Subway' (지하철) for comprehensive public transit information. Furthermore, it also connects with the highly popular 'Sonmok Doctor 9988' (손목닥터 9988) app, a digital health initiative from the Seoul Metropolitan Government. This enables seniors to speak health metrics directly into their records, such as "Record that I had multigrain rice and soup for breakfast today," and the agent will input the data into the app without any manual typing.
"The digital transformation of our city is not a complete success unless it includes every one of our citizens," stated the CEO of the Seoul AI Foundation during the pre-launch event. "We are deeply committed to ensuring that technological progress is a tool that unites our city rather than creates new barriers. 'Talk-and-Done' is a crucial step forward in our 'AI Companion' policy. We have seen that the complex menus and workflows in public apps have historically been the biggest roadblock. By allowing a sophisticated AI to become a personal, conversational bridge, we believe we can empower our seniors and vulnerable groups to live more independent, connected, and dignified lives in a digital-first world."
To celebrate this milestone and encourage early adoption among the target audience, the Seoul AI Foundation has organized a major set of launch-day events. On August 14, citizens who complete their initial sign-up and register their first service use will be automatically entered into a draw to receive a 2,000 KRW gift voucher, with 1,000 winners being selected. Furthermore, a 'spread the word' campaign offers an even larger reward: users who share the announcement on their personal social media, naver cafe community, or favorite KakaoTalk group can win a 5,000 KRW gift voucher. For this event, 150 participants will be chosen. The Foundation is urging younger generations to help their parents or grandparents install the app and participate in these events, framing it as a fun activity that also provides a useful tool.
Installing the application is straightforward and has been simplified with the digital약자 (digital underdogs) in mind. For most users, the process involves a simple QR code scan. By pointing their phone's native camera app at the official QR code found on posters and public information kiosks across the city, they will be instantly directed to the official Google Play Store link. From there, they only need to tap 'Install' (설치) to add the 'Talk-and-Done' agent to their device. For those who prefer a traditional search, they can type "말하면척척" directly into the Play Store.
It is important to note that, for the initial phase, "Talk-and-Done" will be available exclusively on the Android operating system. The Foundation has explained that this platform was chosen for the first release due to its high adoption rate among the target demographic in Korea, combined with Android's more open permissions, which were critical for enabling an external AI agent to read and control screens without extensive and time-consuming code changes in every individual app. An iOS version will be considered based on the service's performance and demand.
The launch of "Talk-and-Done" by the Seoul AI Foundation represents a major step in the city's broader vision to become a leading and inclusive AI powerhouse. Established originally as the 'Seoul Digital Foundation' in 2016, and reorganized in 2025 as the 'Seoul AI Foundation,' the organization serves as the city's central hub and 'innovation control tower' for AI policy, data utilization, and technological advancement. Its core mission is twofold: to accelerate the AI transformation of public administration and services, and to close the digital divide by enhancing the AI capabilities and access of all Seoul citizens. The creation of 'Talk-and-Done' is a marquee project that embodies both of these goals. As the first service of its kind in the public sector, it will likely serve as a model for digital inclusion efforts worldwide. Starting on August 14, a simple sentence can become a key that opens the digital world for thousands of Seoul's citizens, one conversation at a time.
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