South Korean tech giant Kakao Corp. has officially launched its strategic partnership with OpenAI, aiming to revolutionize its artificial intelligence (AI) offerings by integrating OpenAI’s advanced technologies, including ChatGPT, across its services. The announcement made on February 4, 2024, during a press event held in Seoul, marks Kakao's intentions to lead innovation within the competitive global AI market.
Kakao's CEO, Chung Shin-a, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, "I am happy to share our partnership with OpenAI as part of our ambition for new innovation and a leap forward through AI in 2025." This partnership reflects Kakao's commitment to enhancing its services and creating AI products for its massive user base, which includes over 50 million users of its popular messaging app, KakaoTalk.
Chung elaborated on the collaboration, noting, "The two companies are exploring ways to leverage Kakao's services... and OpenAI's global AI capabilities." The alliance is set to introduce Kakao's integrated AI brand, Kanana, later this year, which will embed ChatGPT’s technologies throughout Kakao's platforms.
The roots of this collaboration trace back to discussions initiated in September 2023. Both firms aim not only to implement OpenAI’s technologies but also to engage in co-developing customized AI products, all aimed at enhancing user experience within Kakao’s digital ecosystem. "Our first step is to apply OpenAI's technologies and develop joint products, but this collaboration has the potential to expand in various ways," Chung noted.
OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, visiting Seoul for this announcement, recognized the strategic significance of the partnership, stating, "I think we have a shared vision for what AI can do, and we are particularly interested in AI and messaging." He praised South Korea's rapid adoption of AI technologies and identified it as “a great market” for collaboration, due to its diverse industries ranging from energy to semiconductors.
Altman’s comments highlighted the impressive potential use cases of AI within Korea. He said, "It's great to see how wide the use cases are... from researching cures for childhood cancer to AI deployment in education." This broad applicability reinforces the idea of AI's transformative impact across various sectors, fueling both national and global discussions on its importance.
The strategic partnership also positions Kakao within the broader narrative of global AI advancements, especially following the emergence of competing AI initiatives, such as those by Chinese startup DeepSeek. This alignment with OpenAI may serve as Kakao's leverage point to solidify its position amid intensifying competition.
OpenAI seeks to extend its ecosystem through the Stargate project, which aims to establish AI infrastructure involving several key players, including South Korean companies. Altman hinted at this potential collaboration, noting, "On Stargate, there will be many Korean companies who are important contributors to the ecosystem." While remaining tight-lipped about specifics, he confirmed active discussions with various stakeholders.
Sustaining momentum, Altman hosted OpenAI's inaugural private workshop, titled "Builder Lab," right before the partnership announcement, an event intended to cultivate Korea's burgeoning AI talent. This indicates OpenAI's commitment to nurturing local expertise, ensuring mutual benefits from the partnership.
Kakao, having seen internal challenges recently, with its prior founder facing serious allegations, has been under new leadership since Chung stepped up. This partnership is seen as a significant turning point for the company as it seeks to stabilize and innovate. Chung asserted, "We have high expectations for this strategic collaboration with OpenAI, a global AI leader. This alliance will be a turning point for advancing our orchestration strategy and bringing the future closer."
Looking ahead, Altman hinted at potential expansion plans without detailing specific timelines but emphasized Korea’s importance: "This is an incredibly important market and you should expect to see us more." This proactive outlook invites curiosity about how this partnership will evolve and what new challenges or opportunities it may present.
The strategic alliance between Kakao and OpenAI serves not only as a mutual benefit for both entities but also positions Korea prominently within the global AI conversation. This partnership aims to set new standards for AI utilization and development across both domestic and international stages, showcasing the remarkable capabilities and innovation potential residing within South Korea’s tech ecosystem.