Kim Beomjun COO: "Naver to Redefine Its Identity from Search to AI Agent"

Naver is attempting to transform itself from a search-focused service into an artificial intelligence (AI) agent platform. With predictions that AI chatbots like ChatGPT may replace search engines, the company intends to apply AI agents across its entire range of services.

After delivering his presentation at Naver's annual conference 'DAN25' held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 6th, Kim Beomjun, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Naver, said at a press conference, "Naver's identity so far has been a search service that helps users find what they want," adding, "We will redefine Naver's identity as an agent service that not only finds what customers want but also accomplishes it for them."

Kim Beomjun, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Naver, is delivering the keynote speech at Naver's annual conference 'DAN25' held on the morning of the 6th at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Naver

Naver plans to launch a shopping agent on Naver Plus Store in the first quarter of next year. In the second quarter, it will introduce the 'AI Tab,' which applies AI agents to integrated search, and in the third quarter, it will unveil 'Agent N,' a unified AI agent. Kim COO explained, "The agent service will be expanded gradually and on a trial basis," and added, "Starting with shopping, we will introduce AI agents in multiple domains."

Regarding the differences between Naver's AI agent and those of overseas service providers such as OpenAI and Google, he emphasized, "Google or ChatGPT do not directly provide shopping services. While they can display data by crawling, only Naver can offer assistance at the right moment."

On the topic of expanding agent AI overseas, he suggested that it could be applied to Naver's other services already available internationally. Kim COO stated, "AI agents in global services such as Poshmark, Spain's Wallapop, and Webtoon Entertainment will each take on different forms."

Regarding the delay in launching the shopping AI agent, which was originally scheduled for release this year but has been postponed to the first quarter of next year, he said, "I regret the delay," and explained, "We decided it would be better to improve the agent's completeness and establish a framework for a unified agent."

Earlier in the day, during his keynote speech at DAN25, Kim COO described Agent N as "an agent that understands users multidimensionally and naturally proposes and executes actions when needed," introducing it as "the core of Agent N is a 'seamless' experience where all services are organically connected."

Choi Sooyon, CEO of Naver, also emphasized the capabilities of Agent N, stating, "Users will no longer have to worry about what search terms to enter. Through conversations with Agent N, the AI agent will understand users' intentions, connect them to the content, products, and services they want, and even carry out actual actions."