Kakao said on the 1st that it will recruit users in advance to join the beta test of its new artificial intelligence (AI) service "Kanana in KakaoTalk."
According to Kakao, "Kanana in KakaoTalk" is a service that recognizes when users need help inside KakaoTalk and reaches out first. It understands the conversation context to assist with schedule management, provide information, and recommend places and products.
Users can also chat with Kanana to search for needed information or request recommendations. A key feature is that the service can be used easily within KakaoTalk without installing a separate app (application).
Kakao stressed that Kanana in KakaoTalk is an "on-device AI-based service" with a robust privacy protection system guaranteed. It said the AI runs on the smartphone to keep users' conversations safe. The company said that by using its self-developed AI model "Kanana Nano," Kanana in KakaoTalk is safe yet lightweight, with excellent Korean-language understanding.
Kakao plans to send invitation messages in mid-Oct. to users selected as participants. Through the invitation message, users can download the on-device AI model and use it right inside KakaoTalk.
Kang Ji-hoon, performance leader of Kakao AI Discovery, said, "Kanana in KakaoTalk is a service that can protect users' privacy while providing smarter and more convenient help in daily life," and added, "Through this beta test, we plan to gather a wide range of user feedback and improve the service's completeness."