Naver, a leading domestic portal in South Korea, will invest 1 trillion won ($717 million) over the next six years to enhance the country's AI ecosystem, focusing on AI education.
This initiative involves Naver's nonprofit arm, the Naver Connect Foundation, which will allocate 60 billion won to expand AI education and nurture talent. A dedicated committee, chaired by Naver's CEO Choi Soo-yeon, will oversee the fund.
Choi stated, "[The fund] will address issues such as AI education and access to infrastructure, which is crucial for AI education for elementary, middle and high school students."
Naver plans to deploy AI across its platforms starting next year, committing to invest up to 2.5 trillion won in AI R&D, based on its projected revenue exceeding 10 trillion won in 2024.
Upcoming features include the AI Briefing tool, set for release by mid-2025, which will provide tailored summaries and guided follow-up questions during searches. The feature will support English and Japanese.
Naver will also enhance its navigation service with 3D Street View and export its digital twin technology internationally, including a $100 million deal with Saudi Arabia for city planning applications.
Additionally, Naver is collaborating with Swiss-Mile and NTT East to integrate robotics and augmented reality in construction and smart buildings. An AI-powered shopping app is expected to launch next year, with new delivery options to compete in the e-commerce market.
Despite the competitive landscape dominated by Big Tech, Choi emphasized the importance of internalizing essential AI technologies and proactive investment in R&D.