Naver’s AI-powered search, online shopping services to go into full swing

South Korea’s Naver Corp. has been preparing for years to take its artificial intelligence-based services to the next level. The tech giant now says it’s time for takeoff.

Naver, the operator of Korea’s largest internet portal, said on Monday that its main services, including internet search engine and online shopping and product delivery, will all be based on its HyperCLOVA X AI platform starting the first half of next year.

At its annual tech conference, DAN 24, Naver executives said they will also unveil various customized services, including new delivery services and access to over-the-counter (OTT) services at lower rates, in partnership with Netflix Inc.

"Naver has a very extensive lineup of generative AI technologies. It is now time to integrate our technology into real services," said CEO Choi Soo-yeon while unveiling the company’s business strategy at the conference.

She said Naver’s On-Service AI strategy is designed to integrate its AI technology into its core services, including the search platform and shopping applications.

NAVER PLUS STORE

Naver plans to launch an AI-powered shopping app in the first half of 2025 to boost its lackluster e-commerce business in line with the hyper-personalized shopping trends.

The super app, Naver Plus Store, will offer shopping recommendations and information such as promotions tailored to users’ preferences and needs.

Naver said it will incorporate its hyperscale AI model, HyperCLOVA X, into its search engine to provide more customized answers to user queries and launch an AI Briefing function in the first half of next year.

The AI Briefing function will deliver summarized, AI-generated answers to user questions as well as sources to verify the information's credibility.

The service will initially be available in Korean, English and Japanese.

It will later evolve into a multi-modal, or machine learning model, to process information derived from images, voices and text.

"We showcased HyperCLOVA X last year. After a year of testing our generative AI with our users, sellers and business partners, we are now moving toward commercialization," the CEO said.

NAVER DELIVERY

Naver plans to launch “Naver Delivery,” a range of delivery services that include “Today Delivery” and “Tomorrow Delivery," at different times next year. 

The new options include “Now Delivery,” which delivers goods within an hour of an order; “Dawn Delivery,” in which products arrive the next morning; and “Preferred Date Delivery” in which users can choose a delivery date.

The move is aimed at catching up to the country’s No. 1 e-commerce platform Coupang Inc.’s same- or next-day delivery service Rocket Delivery.

PARTNERSHIPS WITH NETFLIX, SOCAR

Naver said it is joining hands with Netflix to allow its Naver Plus Membership users access to the global OTT service’s ad-supported standard plan at 4,900 won ($3.5) per month from later this month.

Naver said it will also join forces with mobility platform operator Socar Inc. to offer its clients an easier car-sharing service.

Meanwhile, Naver said it plans to create an “impact fund” and spend 1 trillion won over the next six years to facilitate the growth of the country's AI ecosystem.

Write to Seung-Woo Lee and Ju-Hyun Lee at leeswoo@hankyung.com
In-Soo Nam edited this article.