Kakao bets on AI agents to take it beyond messaging

What happened: Kakao unveiled Kanana Space, an AI assistant for KakaoTalk summoned by a two-finger swipe, plus Kanvas, a desktop service for building teams of AI agents. Key numbers: Closed beta for Kanana Space starts December; Kanvas closed beta planned as early as this year, with KakaoTalk access targeted for the first half of 2027. Why it matters: Kakao aims to shift KakaoTalk from menu-based use to language-based task completion, expanding the assistant to shopping, gifts, reservations and money transfers, with user approval required for payments and outgoing messages.

Kakao unveiled Kanana Space, an AI assistant for KakaoTalk summoned by a two-finger swipe, plus Kanvas, a desktop service for building teams of AI agents.

Kakao aims to shift KakaoTalk from menu-based use to language-based task completion, expanding the assistant to shopping, gifts, reservations and money transfers, with user approval required for payments and outgoing messages.