"'ChatGPT for Kakao' isn't just about using ChatGPT inside KakaoTalk. We built it to automatically consolidation Kakao services like Kakao Map, KakaoTalk Reservation, KakaoTalk Gift, and Melon to deliver the most appropriate answers."
Yu Yongha, performance leader for Kakao's AI agent platform, said this on the 28th at the Kakao Pangyo Agit in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, during a press briefing for the launch of "ChatGPT for Kakao." ChatGPT for Kakao is a service that lets users access ChatGPT directly in KakaoTalk (hereafter KakTalk). KakTalk users can click the ChatGPT button at the top of the chat tab to start using the service right away. They can share ChatGPT's answers to a chatroom or ask ChatGPT questions directly while chatting in a room.
Yu said, "With ChatGPT coming into KakTalk, 50 million KakTalk users can easily experience AI in their daily lives," and added, "Through this, we will kick off the everyday AI era in earnest by turning AI from just 'technology' into 'part of everyday life'."
The core of this service is "Kakao Tools (Tools)," an AI agent linked with Kakao's various services. Kakao Map, KakaoTalk Reservation, KakaoTalk Gift, and Melon are linked to Kakao Tools, and, depending on the user's request, it automatically consolidation related services. For example, if asked, "Tell me where to buy croffles near Hapjeong Station," Kakao Tools calls Kakao Map to provide specific locations and information, and, if the user wants, even makes a reservation. Kakao is also pushing to link external partner services to Kakao Tools. Yu said, "Partnerships with external companies for Kakao Tools are underway, but it's not yet time to disclose them, so it's hard to discuss," adding, "We are pursuing service partnerships with major companies so that most users can feel the convenience."
Kakao also addressed concerns about ChatGPT learning from KakTalk conversations. Yu said, "ChatGPT for Kakao puts users' Data Sovereignty first. Users can freely choose whether to save conversations and whether to allow them to be used for AI learning," and explained, "All user information is safely protected under the privacy policies of Kakao and ChatGPT."
Kakao also introduced the on-device AI service "Kanana in KakaoTalk," slated for official release next year. Kanana in KakaoTalk is a service where AI understands the user's situation and context within KakTalk conversations and offers help when needed. It suggests various activities such as information searches and recommendations for places and products, and provides a daily "briefing of the day" to help users carefully keep track of schedules that are easy to miss.
Kang Ji-hoon, performance leader for Kakao AI Discovery, said, "We began beta testing for some users on the 16th of this month," and explained, "Kanana in KakaoTalk uses Kakao's self-developed On-device AI model, 'Kanana Nano (Kanana Nano),' to understand KakTalk conversations."
Because Kanana in KakaoTalk is an On-device AI service, there were limitations based on the user's phone specifications. Kang said, "Currently, only models iPhone 15 Pro or newer with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) chip can use the Kanana in KakaoTalk service," adding, "Android models (such as Samsung Galaxy smartphones) are not supported at this time."
Kakao also addressed concerns about battery drain when using On-device AI services. Kang said, "Assuming 50 inferences per day to support user services, daily battery consumption increased by about 0.5 percent," and added, "There were no issues related to battery problems during the beta test."