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Naver, Kakao step up agentic AI push ahead of launches
Naver and Kakao are stepping up efforts to integrate agentic AI into their core services, aiming for major launches in 2026.
In 2025, both companies embedded large language models across their platforms to enhance user engagement.
Naver introduced Agent N in November to link services such as search, maps, and reservations, and plans to debut an AI shopping agent in Q1 2026, followed by an AI-driven search tab in Q2.
Naver is investing over 1 trillion won (US$691 million) in GPU and AI infrastructure to support these initiatives.
Kakao, known for KakaoTalk, launched ChatGPT for Kakao in October through a partnership with OpenAI.
The company will roll out its proprietary agentic AI, Kanana, on KakaoTalk and related services in the first half of 2026.
🔗 Source: The Korea Times
🧠 Food for thought
Implications, context, and why it matters.
Naver and Kakao lack public AI adoption metrics
- ChatGPT grew 196.6% in South Korea through 2025 and averaged 16.7 million monthly users, according to Wiseapp Retail (a Korean mobile app analytics firm). Naver and Kakao have not shared engagement data for their 2025 AI.
- Naver’s Agent N launched in November 2025, while Kakao’s ChatGPT integration arrived in October. Neither company has shared daily active user (DAU) penetration, task completion rates, or retention.
- Naver spent over 1 trillion won (US$691 million) on Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) and AI infrastructure this year, yet its new AI model ranks second among Korean models on a global benchmark. The gap raises doubts that spending alone will deliver needed capabilities.
Merchants can prepare for Naver’s Q1 2026 AI shopping agent
- Naver plans a Q1 2026 launch for its AI shopping agent, which creates chances for e-commerce sellers and agencies to build connections before the platform opens. Merchants can check whether the company will publish Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) or product catalog schemas (standardized data fields) or merchant onboarding guides in advance.
- Commerce tech providers can build connectors for the agent, similar to Amazon’s A+ Content (enhanced product page modules) or Google Shopping feeds. Focus areas include catalog enrichment (richer titles, attributes, images) and inventory sync.
- Advertiser tools are planned with the shopping agent, so marketing technology companies can watch for Naver beta programs or partnership announcements. Early work on attribution solutions, bidding tools, or analytics dashboards tailored to AI shopping surfaces could help vendors win first.
