Kakao launches Kanana Space AI assistant for KakaoTalk messenger

At a developers' event on its AI campus in Yongin, Kakao Corp. introduced Kanana Space, an integrated AI assistant slated for release on the KakaoTalk messenger following a closed beta that started in December. CEO Chung Shin-a described the shift from a graphic user interface to a language user interface that can grasp context and intent, aiming for smoother, faster task completion. The service, built on a layered AI architecture, can recommend clothing for workouts based on weather and personal activity data, and can organize users' schedules by analyzing their KakaoTalk message history.

Kakao outlined its strategy for the underlying foundation model, Kanana, noting the use of Multi-Teacher On-Policy Distillation to preserve quality in smaller language models. An executive emphasized that the focus is on delivering the best outcomes for each request without relying on the largest model for every task. The company aims to embed intelligence that recognizes individual differences into a platform that connects millions of users daily.