akao is transforming KakaoTalk from a simple messaging app into an "artificial intelligence (AI) interface" that acts on behalf of users to handle tasks. Agentic AI, which assists with daily life and work according to the context of conversations, is being applied to KakaoTalk. The company has unveiled an AI assistant that can be summoned anywhere on the KakaoTalk screen, along with a service that allows users to build their own agents.

Having declared its evolution into an "AI service for 50 million people" last year, Kakao AI has secured around 13 million subscribers and is evaluated as having successfully established itself, though monetization remains a task. Kakao has pointed to the "commerce agent" as the key to successfully monetizing KakaoTalk AI.

On October 13, Kakao held its developer conference "if(kakao)26" at the Kakao AI Campus in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, where it debuted its AI assistant "Kanana Space" and agent-building service "Kanvas." This year's event slogan is "Infusing Intelligence into Every Connection."

Delivering the keynote as the first speaker, Kakao CEO 정신아 (Jung Shin-ah) stated, "Over the past 15 years, under the goal of connecting everything in the world, Kakao has connected friends, colleagues, and family on KakaoTalk, while weaving daily life together through appointments, settlements, gifts, and content. Now, we will create the connections of the next 10 years through AI technology."

CEO Jung explained, "We will ensure that even without having to reintroduce yourself every time, Kanana remembers you and responds according to the context. The exact same phrase 'order it' has different meanings depending on the situation." She added, "We are making it so that this process flows naturally with just a single word—from understanding the user's intent to going through necessary confirmations and safely completing the order."

◆ Swipe with your finger to summon 'Ryan'... Give a word and it even handles orders

Kanana Space is characterized by shifting the interface from a tapping/GUI (Graphical User Interface) format to a request-driven AUI (Agentic User Interface) format. By swiping down with two fingers anywhere on the KakaoTalk screen, the character "Ryan" appears. Users can then request message transmission, schedule management, web searches, KakaoTalk settings changes, or simply engage in casual conversation.

The default mode is voice. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Ryan serves as Kanana Space's first persona, acquiring a voice for the first time. In public places or other environments where speaking aloud is difficult, users can switch to text mode, or summon the assistant using a floating button on the screen instead of gestures. Kakao plans to introduce other IP characters following Ryan.

At the event, Kim Dae-nyeon, Kakao Design General Performance Leader, demonstrated Kanana Space handling schedules based on user conversations. When asked to "Show today's schedule," the assistant pinpointed a request made the previous night in a family group chat regarding the daughter's kindergarten pickup, and even calculated the departure time. With a single phrase like "Order bottled water," the system selected previously ordered water, applied available coupons, and prepared the entire procedure from order to payment seamlessly.

Kakao plans to grow Kanana Space into a service that handles orders, gifting, reservations, and remittances. The company intends to let users choose the scope of work entrusted to the AI directly. This selection and management approach starts right at the service usage consent stage. Pre-applications open on the same day, and selected applicants will be able to use the service sequentially starting in December.

Leader Kim emphasized, "As AI handles more tasks, what matters most is the user's choice and control. For critical actions like sending messages or making payments, the structure requires users to directly review and give final approval. The AI assists the process, but the final decision remains with the user."

◆ 'My own agent team' on PC... Connecting to KakaoTalk next year

Kakao also unveiled Kanvas, a service that builds "my own agent team." Operating as a PC-based service, it allows users to verbally describe the agents they need, packaging tools and functions together to form an agent team. Agents operate strictly within the boundaries permitted by the user, and users only need to intervene at critical stages.

CEO Jung introduced the service Kanvas directly, noting, "Installing autonomous agents yourself and setting them up to perform desired tasks remains unfamiliar and difficult for the general public. Kakao aims to lower this barrier to entry."

Kanvas consists of three main elements: a "Core Engine" that configures skills according to task guidelines and remembers context via local memory; a "Browser" that separates access information so it does not mix with everyday web services; and a "Sandbox Execution Environment" that isolates security-sensitive tasks like authentication and payments so they do not impact other areas of the PC.

CEO Jung suggested that Kanvas can be utilized for tax returns and year-end settlements. She explained that users can create agents that gather scattered data, input it into relevant sites, and even proceed with filing and tax payments after user review. Agents created by users can also be shared with others.

Kakao plans to run a small-scale closed beta test (CBT) as early as the end of this year and add features allowing users to share agents among themselves. In the first half of next year, the company plans to unveil an "open agentic AI architecture" that allows users to run agents built on other frameworks directly within KakaoTalk.

◆ "Persuading partners takes time"... The key to monetization is the commerce agent

Although Kakao did not directly present a definitive monetization plan—which remains a challenge for Kakao AI—the commerce agent is expected to be a crucial key. While external shopping, delivery, and reservation companies need to enter the KakaoTalk AI ecosystem, individual companies have harbored concerns such as development costs and revenue sharing.

Regarding this, CEO Jung remarked, "It took time and persuasion to have partners commit development resources, factor in existing revenue structures, and verify the potential for actual traffic and sales. We realized that by diversifying connection methods, partners should be able to participate more easily and quickly confirm business value."

In addition to the traditional server integration method, Kakao is adding an approach where AI processes orders on behalf of users within an isolated cloud browser. Partners can participate without any separate development burden, and user authentication information is protected within a segregated environment.

Kakao aims to secure 10 million monthly active users (MAU) for its KakaoTalk AI service by the end of the year and embark on full-scale monetization starting in 2027.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]