"AnyChat" utilizes its own deep learning translation engine, enabling translation of colloquial language
“With 'AnyChat,' the conversation is translated in real-time and delivered to the recipient, eliminating the need for complicated steps,” said Lee Seung-jin, CEO of AnyChat.
In an exclusive interview with The Korea Post media, publisher of 3 English and 2 Korean-language news publications since 1985, Lee said “AnyChat utilizes its own deep learning translation engine, enabling translation of colloquial language and slang. This allows users to have more natural conversations when interacting with foreigners.”
The followings are main excerpts from an interview with Scony Lee, president of AnyChat.
Question: Would you introduce a general description of your business and your plan to expand in the future?
Answer: ANYCHAT Co., Ltd.('ANYCHAT') was established in 2021. 'ANYCHAT' currently operates a messenger app called "AnyChat" and a social media app called "AnyStory" utilizing real-time multilingual translation interfaces. We plan to expand our business in the future by utilizing real-time translation interfaces for webtoon content translation, business exhibition platforms, and even applying the interfaces to platforms such as YouTube Live or Weverse Live, allowing global creators to communicate in real-time with multinational fans.
Furthermore, 'ANYCHAT' entered into a mutual business agreement last year, which involves applying AnyChat's real-time multilingual translation solution to the game streaming service provided by the "International eSports Federation(IeSF)" which has approximately 130 member countries. Through this collaboration with the federation, we aim to secure over 300 million users engaged in federation activities as potential members.
Q: What are strong points of AnyChat, including echnology?
A: Formerly, when chatting with someone who speaks a different language, one had to copy and paste the conversation into a translation program, and then relay the translated content back to the other person. However, with "AnyChat", the conversation is translated in real-time and delivered to the recipient, eliminating the need for complicated steps.
Moreover, while existing translation messengers rely on the Google API, which is based on formal language, "AnyChat" utilizes its own deep learning translation engine, enabling translation of colloquial language and slang. This allows users to have more natural conversations when interacting with foreigners.
Additionally, "AnyChat" offers the advantage of web-based translation chat with users who do not have the app installed, using QR codes or NFC cards.
Q: Which global markets should you target specifically?
A: We have chosen Indonesia as the first country for our overseas expansion. Indonesia is a country with a population of nearly 300 million and a significant number of tourists visit there. It also has a high dependence on mobile devices, indicating a large potential user base. To pursue this opportunity, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Indonesian financial company 'PAYAGO' in February of this year. In the future, we plan to further expand our overseas business into countries such as Thailand and Japan.
Q: Do you have any recommendations to the Seoul government?
A: I hope for an increased opportunity for startups to leverage their technological capabilities in government or local authorities policies, business projects, festivals.
I think that our application, "AnyChat," can be utilized in various aspects such as multicultural families, popular local festivals for foreigners, and tourist site guidance. However, the reality is that it is not easy for small startups to propose business projects to the government or each local authority given their current circumstances. It would be great to have more opportunities to communicate and collaborate with the government and local authorities.
Q: What is your brief profile and management philosophy?
A: I started my career as an engineer. After working at several companies, I served as the CEO of 'BEFS' and the Executive Director of 'CAMMSYS'. Currently, I am working as the CEO of 'BTBL' and 'ANYCHAT'.
My management philosophy is to prioritize a user-centered mindset.
The motivation behind planning the messaging app "AnyChat" was that I experienced the inconvenience of using existing translation messengers. Based on that, I focused on developing "AnyChat" to be user-friendly and convenient. As a result, we have acquired technical capabilities such as real-time multilingual translation and the integration of QR codes and NFC cards for chatting in "AnyChat", as mentioned earlier. I would like to emphasize that 'ANYCHAT'’s core value is to create a world where anyone can communicate in their language through a convenient and user-friendly app.
Q: Do you have anything else to speak additionally?
A: Korea has gained global recognition in terms of mobile hardware, and it is widely used in various countries. However, there is still no app from Korea that has gained worldwide popularity like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and others.
Ultimately, "AnyChat" aims to become a globally used app developed in Korea and strives to become the best in the chat platform industry worldwide. If we can become a leading company providing a global communication solution and offering user-friendly apps, and if through this we can contribute to a global society where people from all around the world can overcome language barriers and become friends, it would be the realization of my dream as a CEO.