[Report] "Opening Up While Talking to AI"... Naver CareCall Captivates Osaka Expo

Naver Cloud Showcases AI and Digital Twin Technologies
Clova CareCall AI Well-Being Call Experience Booth Draws Attention
About 4,000 Daily Visitors... "Expected to Benefit the Elderly"

"It is not easy to open up about your true feelings to someone, but while talking with CareCall, I ended up sharing about my husband who passed away five years ago for the first time. After expressing my sadness, I felt a sense of healing."

On the morning of the 10th at the Osaka Expo Festival Hall in Yumeshima, Osaka, Japan, Ms. Suzuki (69), whom we met at the venue, shared her impressions after experiencing Naver's artificial intelligence (AI) well-being call service, 'Clova CareCall.' She, who lives in Kobe, said that after losing her husband, she was able to naturally talk about her feelings while exchanging greetings with the AI.

On the morning of the 10th, visitors are watching a performance at the Naver Clova Care Call booth set up at the Osaka Expo Festival Hall in Yumesima, Osaka, Japan. Provided by Naver Cloud

Naver Cloud is participating in the 'Osaka·Kansai Expo' to showcase AI and digital twin technologies aimed at solving the challenges of Japan's super-aged society. Operating an exhibition hall at the Expo Festival Hall from July 9 to 11, Naver Cloud is introducing AI-based digital welfare models, including Clova CareCall.

At the entrance to the exhibition hall, dozens of visitors were waiting to enter. Despite the scorching sun with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, visitors continued to make their way toward the hall. The exhibition focused on two main technologies: the AI well-being call service Clova CareCall, and digital twin technology that visualizes and manages the movement data of elderly people in real time.

According to Naver Cloud, the exhibition hall, which covers an area of about 430 square meters, is attracting an average of 4,000 visitors per day. By the final day of the exhibition on the 11th, it is expected that a total of approximately 12,000 visitors will have attended.

On the morning of the 10th, visitors are waiting to experience CareCall at the Osaka Expo Festival Hall held in Yumesima, Osaka, Japan. Photo by Lee Myunghwan

On the morning of the 10th, visitors are experiencing CareCall at the Osaka Expo Festival Hall held at Yumeshima, Osaka, Japan. Photo by Lee Myunghwan

Upon entering the exhibition hall, a video interview with an elderly person who actually uses the Clova CareCall service was playing on the main stage. On both sides of the hall, there were booths where visitors could directly experience CareCall and digital twin technology. There were also experience events for visitors, and those who visited all the booths received souvenirs such as parasols. On the main stage, performances introducing CareCall were held at scheduled times.

Among the exhibits, Clova CareCall especially drew visitors' attention. Clova CareCall allows elderly people to have emotional exchanges through conversations with AI, and if any unusual signs are detected during a call, it helps connect them to hospitals or local organizations to respond to emergencies. It also helps reduce the workload of social workers, thereby helping to prevent care gaps that can occur due to staff shortages. Clova CareCall was recently introduced in Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture, one of Japan's rapidly aging cities.

At the CareCall experience booth, set up in one corner of the exhibition hall, there was a line of people waiting, and visitors asked questions about the service while waiting for their turn. Mr. Sato (31), who tried the CareCall experience that day, said, "My grandmother, who is 91 years old, lives alone, and there are many days when she doesn't speak at all. I worry that she is gradually forgetting how to talk," adding, "If she could continue conversations with CareCall, I think it would be a great help."

Mr. Takahashi (67), who has experienced speech impairment after a traffic accident, also said, "After talking with CareCall, it felt as if the blocked parts were slowly being loosened, like oil being applied. If I could practice like this every day, I have high hopes that I would really improve."

The digital twin system, which can track the location of elderly people in real time and connect to a control center if abnormal behavior is detected, was also on display. This system functions as an AI-based urban welfare platform that connects city functions such as welfare, healthcare, and public safety. Naver Cloud plans to expand the digital twin system from Izumo to other small and medium-sized cities in Japan with high welfare needs.

Kim Yoowon, CEO of Naver Cloud, said, "Advanced technologies such as AI and digital twins are expected to become not just innovations but essential welfare infrastructure and everyday safety nets in a super-aged society," adding, "Starting with Izumo, we will actively seek to apply these technologies to various fields so that they can bring real benefits to local communities."

Carecall Experience Booth Operating at the Osaka Expo Festival Hall in Yumesima, Osaka, Japan on the Morning of the 10th. Photo by Lee Myunghwan