Naver Chief Data and Contents Officer Kim Kwang-hyun addresses a media roundtable in Seoul. (Image: Naver)
Naver has announced a significant investment of 1 trillion won ($663 million) over the next five years, dedicated to strengthening its creator ecosystem. This strategic move highlights Naver’s firm belief that user-generated content (UGC) will emerge as a pivotal asset in the next generation of artificial intelligence (AI) services.
"The core of competition among AI platforms is shifting towards superior data quality and enhanced service competitiveness," stated Kim Kwang-hyun, Naver’s Chief Data and Contents Officer, during the company’s media roundtable in Seoul. He further emphasized, "Naver’s unique content ecosystem, cultivated over more than 25 years, represents our most powerful asset."
Boosting Creators with Naver Mate
Scheduled for launch next month, "Naver Mate" is an innovative support program specifically designed for creators contributing user-generated content, including blog posts, reviews, Q&A answers, and premium content. Each month, approximately 3,000 creators will be recognized across platforms such as Blog, Cafe, Knowledge iN, and Premium Contents. Their selection will be based on how frequently their content is cited within AI Briefing, Naver’s advanced AI-powered summary feature. Knowledge iN, a long-standing Naver service, provides comprehensive question-and-answer support.
Selected creators will receive an official emblem along with substantial cash support, ranging from 300,000 won to 10 million won per individual. This comprehensive support package totals 20 billion won annually. The program is set to expand in the latter half of the year, incorporating creators from Clip, Naver’s popular short-form video service, and will operate in a beta phase through the end of the year.
Advanced AI Agent Technology Unveiled
During the roundtable, Naver also provided details on the sophisticated technology powering its ambitious AI agent push. This initiative is supported by large language models (LLMs) meticulously tailored for individual services, leveraging an immense dataset of approximately 10 billion pieces of data. Additionally, robust API tools will seamlessly connect Naver’s diverse AI services with various platform functions. The company highlighted "harness engineering," a critical set of technical safeguards ensuring the reliable operation of AI services across its product suite.
HyperClova X and Next-Gen AI Features
Naver confirmed that its next-generation HyperClova X, the company’s advanced Korean-language generative AI model, will be integrated across its entire suite of services.
Its AI Tab, an innovative AI-powered search section delivering summarized and conversational answers, rapidly accumulated over 3 million cumulative users within just one month of its beta launch in April. This feature is scheduled for a full rollout to all users in June.
Furthermore, Naver plans to introduce a new version of Smart Lens by the end of next month. This enhanced feature will empower users to capture photos, access detailed information, and seamlessly navigate to related services.
Kim Sang-bum, head of Naver’s search platform division, remarked, "Leveraging Naver’s unique strengths that profoundly understand the daily lives and cultural context of Korean users, we are committed to building AI agent services that transcend traditional search functions and proactively empower users to take action."
