Naver CEO outlines strategy to compete with U.S. tech giants in AI
Naver chief Choi Soo-yeon says the Korean internet firm will push AI development to challenge dominant U.S. companies.
Since taking the helm in 2022, Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon has emphasized the company's ambition to develop artificial-intelligence capabilities that can rival those of U.S. giants. Naver has introduced a Korean-focused large-language model, HyperCLOVA X, which powers its CLOVA X chatbot and the Cue AI search service. The firm also maintains a growing cloud business and a diversified portfolio that includes stakes in Yahoo Japan, Line, and recent acquisitions such as Poshmark and Wattpad.
Choi argues that Naver’s Korean base and partnerships with chip makers like Samsung and Intel give it an edge in building language-specific AI. She also stresses the need for “sovereign AI” tailored to the requirements of companies and governments that larger platforms may not meet. While investors remain cautious about growth, the company posted record revenue of 9.6 trillion won in 2023.
