Kakao Enhances AI Focus, Merges Kakao Brain Into Core Operations

South Korea's Kakao Corporation finally decided to absorb Kakao Brain's AI unit. The tech and internet giant is taking over its AI research and development (R&D) business, which will include all of the department's staff and core assets, such as the large-scale language model (LLM) called "Ko-GPT" and the "Karlo" image generation AI model.

As part of the merger, Kakao will also adopt all assets used in the company's operations. The company said everything in its AI business unit will be merged with Kakao Brain's artificial intelligence research and development division.

Kakao to House All of Its AI Capabilities at Its HQ

According to Pulse News, the company held a board meeting on Thursday, May 2. The executive members agreed to move Kakao Brain's extensive AI-based language model, talk channel business unit, and other AI assets to Kakao's headquarters.

The absorption of Kakao Brain into Kakao's main office is said to be a strategic move to consolidate and manage all of the company's AI capabilities in one department. With the board's approval, AI research and development will now operate under the parent company.

Moreover, Kakao will also incorporate its real estate development and supply business division, Kakao Space. From now on, this, too, will start operating under the main company.

Completion of the Mergers

The company said integrating Kakao Brain and Kakao Space into the headquarters is expected to be completed in early June. Once the AI R&D is moved, only the Chief Healthcare Officer (CHO) unit managing the AI healthcare imaging solution department will remain an independent division within Kakao Brain.

"We are consolidating our technology and service capabilities to speed up the development of AI services," Seoul Economic Daily quoted Kakao as saying in a statement. "Kakao plans to promote the routine and popularization of AI technology in line with the rapidly changing AI era."

Chung Shin Ah, Kakao's chief executive officer, added, "We will maximize synergy by integrating Kakao's know-how in understanding and interpreting user experiences and Kakao Brain's capabilities in language models, and through this, we will present the most Kakao-like service that permeates users' daily lives."

Photo by: Kakao Newsroom