MWC 2025: World's biggest mobile and telecom companies go all in on AI

Over in Spain, the world's largest mobile device showcase has opened its doors with of course AI taking center stage.

Our correspondent Lee Soo-jin files this report from Barcelona.

Thousands have once again made the annual pilgrimage to Barcelona for the latest innovations in mobile devices and telecommunications.

And at the 2025 Mobile World Congress, one theme dominates: artificial intelligence.

"Basically every booth that you are crossing is the one about AI integration so it's all about AI mostly."

One such booth where AI is taking center stage is South Korean telecom giant LG Uplus's first-ever solo exhibition at MWC, where visitors are greeted not just by staff, but by the humanoid robot Alice.

But it's not just about eye-catching AI technology, as LG Uplus is showcasing AI innovations that are secure.

"As AI develops so there are more crimes related to AI, so the criminals use the AI-generated voices . Basically there are many generated AI defects such as personal information leakages."

LG Uplus's AI-powered technology "Anti-DeepVoice" is designed to detect voice phishing and fraud by distinguishing between real human voices and deepfake voices.

After my voice was recorded it was turned into a deepfake to test the technology.

The AI technology successfully detected that my voice was a deepfake.

The focus on secure AI is also evident in the mobile industry, particularly in Samsung Electronics' latest mid-range smartphones, unveiled for the first time at this year's convention.

"The Galaxy AI is providing you this new way of interacting with the device also in a secure way. So it can be trusted that this information is never going to be compromised."

And the more budget-friendly prices are set to make secure and advanced AI-powered features, such as AI-enhanced photography once limited to high-end models, more accessible.

AI-enhanced photography features were also what drew large crowds to Chinese smartphones.

Huawei showcased the world's first commercial tri-fold smartphone, utilizing AI to enhance zoom capabilities for photography,

while Xiaomi debuted its 15 Ultra, featuring AI-driven extreme zoom and image clarity enhancements for photos.

"From AI-driven security solutions to AI-powered smartphones, this year's MWC is making one thing clear: artificial intelligence is no longer an option but a necessity for telecom and mobile innovation."

Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News, Barcelona.