Finding Scholarships and Applying for Documents—KakaoTalk Becomes an 'AI Assistant'

[Financial News] Kakao is building an artificial intelligence (AI) agent that uses KakaoTalk and phone calls to handle everyday tasks on users' behalf. Rather than simply answering questions, the company aims to create an 'end-to-end AI' that can handle the entire process, from finding scholarships to issuing, applying for, and receiving documents. It has also set a goal of securing 5 million monthly active users (MAU) initially and expanding that figure to 30 million by 2030.
According to the information technology (IT) industry on the 23rd, the Kakao consortium is building an AI agent service through the Ministry of Science and ICT's 'AI for All' project, using KakaoTalk and phone calls as its primary access points. It plans to combine the AI model and infrastructure capabilities of Kakao, LG Uplus, and other LG affiliates, beginning with services in everyday fields such as the public, medical, and financial sectors.
The key feature is that users can interact with the AI as they would chat with a friend on their existing KakaoTalk account, without installing a separate app or learning a new way to use the service. The service will also allow users to ask questions and request tasks by phone, particularly to support older adults and others who are less familiar with digital services.
The Kakao consortium aims to secure 5 million MAUs initially. It plans to increase the number of users to 10 million by the end of 2027 and 30 million by 2030. Existing online and offline touchpoints, including KakaoTalk AlimTalk notifications, in-service exposure, and LG Uplus retail stores, will be used to attract users.
At the center of the service will be an 'end-to-end AI agent' that carries users' requests through to actual results. Instead of stopping after finding the information users need, the AI will continue with follow-up procedures such as identity verification, document issuance, applications, reservations, and payments. The consortium is also considering a feature that sends users follow-up notifications through AlimTalk or text messages if a task is interrupted, allowing them to complete it.
Applying for scholarships is a representative use case. The AI would find scholarships available to a student, help prepare the required supporting documents, and guide the student through the application process to the actual receipt of the scholarship. The consortium plans to gradually build a system that connects government and public institutions with private services and handles each step based on the user's consent.
In the public sector, Kakao will draw on its experience with 'AI National Secretary,' which it developed in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS). Based on its experience connecting electronic document issuance and submission with authentication and storage tools, the company plans to expand links with government-affiliated institutions. In the medical and financial sectors, it will also leverage the services and expertise of the consortium's participating companies.
The beta service, which is being prepared for launch around mid-October, will initially take the form of a chatbot based on an agent platform. The service will be built around a web-based agent platform, while users will access it through KakaoTalk and phone calls. Access points will later be expanded to public services such as Government24, as well as TVs and home appliances.
The AI models will use domestic models such as Kakao's 'Kanana' and LG AI Research's 'EXAONE,' tailored to the characteristics of each service. LG affiliates will provide infrastructure capabilities, including AI models and integrated graphics processing unit (GPU) operations, while Kakao will contribute its experience in planning and operating services for a large user base.
The consortium also plans to connect with external AI agents. Kakao will link its open platform 'PlayMCP,' based on the Model Context Protocol (MCP), with the Ministry of Science and ICT's 'AI Agent Marketplace Development Support Project.' Through this effort, it plans to verify external agents and make them available through 'AI for All.'
A Kakao official said, "We will combine the strengths of the participating companies to create AI services that people can naturally turn to and use consistently in their daily lives."
[email protected] Choi Hye-rim Reporter