Kakao, Google team up to develop on-device AI services

Kakao announced a strategic partnership with Google to collaborate on on-device AI services and integrate its technologies into Google’s XR devices, including AI glasses.

The partnership aims to improve Kakao’s Kanana chatbot, launched last year within KakaoTalk, to run more efficiently on Android devices.

Kanana is a privacy-focused AI service that understands user conversations and offers proactive suggestions.

Kakao also plans to develop interfaces for new XR devices to enable hands-free messaging and natural language interactions.

Additionally, Kakao is in discussions with Google Cloud to use Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) for AI infrastructure, aiming to reduce operational costs.

🔗 Source: The Korea Times

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Kakao spreads its AI work across Google and OpenAI

The arrangement is not exclusive. Kakao also works with OpenAI, and executives said ChatGPT services are already integrated into KakaoTalk 1.
Kakao separates the roles to limit overlap. Google handles on-device features, while OpenAI supports consumer-facing services 2.
That split lets Kakao cover more of the AI stack by working with leaders in each area 2.
Kakao is also in talks with Google Cloud about using Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), Google’s AI-focused chips, for AI infrastructure. This builds on earlier work, since Kakao Brain, an AI R&D subsidiary of Kakao Corp., used Google Cloud TPUs in past AI model development 3.

A model for regional apps in the AI platform race

The deal offers a way forward for large regional apps. They can act as AI coordinators, plugging top tools into big user bases instead of building every layer in-house.
On-device AI also lets Kakao use conversation context from private chats that stays on Android devices, which supports privacy 4.
That local context gives Kakao an edge that cloud-only AI models struggle to match without the same on-device access.
The work on XR devices, including AI glasses, helps place Kakao services in new hardware. It also lowers the risk of being pushed aside in another platform shift like the one that hit many companies in the mobile era 5.