Kakao Brain - South Korea's AI

Overview

Kakao Brain is the AI research and development division of South Korean tech giant Kakao Group, now deeply integrated into Kakao's Agentic AI strategy. In 2026, Kakao launched the upgraded Kanana-2 model, planning to fully deploy its self-developed Agentic AI Kanana into core services like KakaoTalk in the first half of the year. Simultaneously, Kakao has established strategic partnerships with Google and OpenAI to build a full-stack AI ecosystem.

Product Information

Core Products and Services

Kanana-2 Model

• Upgraded version of Kakao's self-developed AI model
• Enhanced tool invocation capabilities
• Improved instruction-following abilities
• Planned deployment to KakaoTalk in the first half of 2026

Kakana AI Assistant

• AI assistant feature integrated into KakaoTalk
• Can initiate conversations proactively
• Provides context-aware assistance
• Agentic AI capabilities—understanding user intent, autonomous planning, and task execution

ChatGPT for Kakao

• Collaboration with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into KakaoTalk
• Gradual introduction of AI-driven features

Kakao Tools (AI Agent Services)

• Expanded to include third-party services and affiliated companies
• External partners: Olive Young, Musinsa, Hyundai Department Store, MyRealTrip, Saramin, etc.
• Provides AI agent services within the KakaoTalk ecosystem

Strategic Partnerships

Collaboration with Google

• Enhancing on-device AI capabilities for Android devices
• Deepening mobile AI experiences

Collaboration with OpenAI

• Integrating ChatGPT into KakaoTalk
• Gradually introducing AI features within the messaging platform

AI Ecosystem Development Plan

• Collaboration with four national tech institutes in January 2026
• 50 billion KRW regional AI ecosystem development plan
• Participation of 66 teams, including KAIST

"Everyday AI" Vision

• Announced at the if(kakao)25 conference
• Integrating AI into daily usage scenarios of KakaoTalk
• Comprehensive AI experience from search and conversation to services

Market Competitiveness

Strengths

• KakaoTalk is South Korea's national messaging app (penetration rate over 90%)
• Diversified ecosystem (payments, transportation, e-commerce, content)
• Dual partnerships with Google and OpenAI
• Unique combination of Agentic AI and messaging platform
• Rich third-party service ecosystem (Kakao Tools)
• Advantages in South Korean culture and language

Weaknesses

• Self-developed Kanana model lags behind international leading models
• Reliance on OpenAI's ChatGPT capabilities
• AI commercialization models still under exploration
• Competition from South Korean rivals like Naver and Upstage
• Limited influence in international markets

Sources

• Naver, Kakao gear up for agentic AI era in 2026
• Kakao builds full-stack AI strategy with Google, OpenAI
• KakaoTalk and AI Combined: "Everyday AI" Vision
• Kakao Expands AI Agent 'Kakao Tools'
• Kakao Launches AI Ecosystem Development Initiative