KaKao

• Kakao and OpenAI announce strategic collaboration at joint press conference in Seoul 

• Aiming to popularize AI services through technical cooperation

• Expanding OpenAI’s integration within Kakao’s digital ecosystem

 

[Seoul, February 4, 2025] Kakao, South Korea’s leading mobile communication company and the provider of KakaoTalk, Korea’s most popular messaging service, announced a strategic collaboration with OpenAI, the first of its kind in Korea, during a joint press conference held at the Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul.

 

The strategic collaboration will focus on developing and enhancing Kakao’s services by leveraging OpenAI’s advanced AI technology, tailored to the unique needs of Korean users,  and making it more accessible. Key areas of focus include:

 

• Kanana, a new and enhanced communication service—a user-friendly “AI Agent”—that delivers personalized, context-aware responses, will be powered by OpenAI’s advanced models

• The collaboration will actively expand OpenAI’s integration within Kakao’s digital ecosystem, including core services like KakaoTalk

• Kakao plans to deploy ChatGPT Enterprise to employees to enable smarter workflows and boost workplace productivity.

 

The details of the collaboration were announced at a joint press conference, where Kakao CEO Shina Chung and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared their vision for the collaboration and outlined its future direction.

 

In addition, leveraging OpenAI’s technology including ChatGPT Enterprise in the workplace and to enhance Kakao products and features, the two companies will pursue co-product development that leverages the strengths of both organizations.

 

This collaboration supports Kakao’s ‘AI Model Orchestration’ strategy, first introduced at the if(kakaoAI) developer conference last October. This approach integrates Kakao’s proprietary AI models with leading external APIs to deliver high-quality services. By selecting and integrating OpenAI’s technology, Kakao aims to deliver best-in-class AI experiences through its services. 

 

Shina Chung, CEO of Kakao expressed her excitement about collaborating with OpenAI, stating, “We are thrilled to establish this strategic collaboration with OpenAI, a global leader in AI technology. Through this collaboration, Kakao will further advance its orchestration strategy and mark a turning point in Kakao’s efforts to bring the future closer.” 

 

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI commented, “Kakao has a deep understanding of how technology can enrich everyday lives, and they’ve consistently delivered innovative experiences for their users,” said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. “We’re excited to bring advanced AI to Kakao’s millions of users and work together to integrate our technology into services that transform how Kakao’s users communicate and connect.”