Kakao and Naver are making significant strides in the development and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) services as they aim to bolster their competitive edge and user engagement. Kakao's internal testing of its conversational AI service, known as 'Kanana,' is set to begin soon, marking the company’s commitment to advancing its AI offerings for users.
According to industry sources, the Kakao team is preparing to kick off internal testing, which is expected to refine the service before its public rollout later this year. "Kanana is set to provide users with personalized assistance similar to having a friend," stated a Kakao representative. This innovative service will feature both personal and group conversation capabilities, providing users with various functions including managing schedules, document summarization, and detailed information analysis.
Jeong Jin-a, the CEO of Kakao, described the past year as filled with challenges but emphasized the potential for growth through AI. Speaking on January 2, 2024, he remarked, "2024 will serve as the year to expand Kakao's business domains using new services and technologies." His remarks were directed at leveraging AI as Kakao seeks to strengthen its offerings beyond traditional messaging services.
Following Kakao’s strategy, Naver is also shifting its focus toward AI integration, announcing its plans during the New Year. The company's CEO, Choi Soo-yeon, assured stakeholders of their commitment to AI enhancement, proclaiming, "For 2025, our theme will be 'On Service AI,' meaning significant AI integration across all our services." This marked Naver’s aim to embed AI deeply within its platform to cater to user preferences and improve overall experience.
Naver has targeted specific enhancements, particularly within its shopping services, planning to launch the AI-driven 'Naver Plus Store' which tailors product recommendations based on user interests. Choi described this approach as not just beneficial for consumer experience, but also strategic for capturing market share against competitors rapidly increasing their foothold.
Each company's strategy reflects its ambitions within an ever-evolving technological environment characterized by rapid advancements. Kakao aims to differentiate itself with 'Kanana,' which will act as a standalone app separate from KakaoTalk, acknowledging the competitive space against existing solutions such as ChatGPT. The challenge lies not only in rolling out users but providing enough unique features to maintain engagement and loyalty.
Kakao has already begun to enrich user experience within its existing platforms by incorporating AI functionalities like birthday reminders and gift suggestions. "We are enhancing our internal AI briefing capabilities to compete for market share," added another Naver representative, indicating their commitment to building their systems underpinned by conversational and decision-making AI.
The competition between Kakao and Naver highlights their drive to leverage AI not simply as a buzzword but as core components of their business models. With both organizations investing heavily to refine their platforms, it is evident the race to lead the AI service initiative is underway. Kakao and Naver's strategic focus on user-focused improvements through AI promises not just enhancements to their own ecosystems but challenges the broader financial landscapes of digital services.
The growth of AI within these tech giants signals not only their intentions for the upcoming year but forecasts the broader transformation of user engagement within digital platforms. Observers expect continued innovation and iteration as these companies adapt to rapid changes within the industry.