Kakao has selected Coupang Eats as the first collaborative partner for its artificial intelligence (AI) agent, introducing a service that handles everything from food recommendations to ordering and payment directly within a KakaoTalk chat window.

Starting with this collaboration, Kakao plans to evolve KakaoTalk into an "action-oriented AI platform" by connecting everyday services such as commerce, reservations, and travel through its AI agent.

Kakao CEO Chung Shin-a announced during the second-quarter earnings conference call held today (August 6) that "as the first step in expanding the agent AI ecosystem, we have signed a partnership with Coupang Eats in the food delivery vertical field."

Through this integration, users will be able to receive food recommendations from AI, place orders, and complete payments all within a KakaoTalk chat room without having to switch to a separate app.

Kakao's on-device AI model analyzes conversation context and the user's accumulated preferences to suggest menus, allowing users to naturally complete payments within the chat room.

CEO Chung explained, "This goes beyond simply adding a food delivery function to KakaoTalk; it is the first step in creating a new user habit where AI connects user intentions with actual actions and transactions." She added, "Both companies are currently in detailed discussions to ensure that the agent AI experience within Talk seamlessly translates into actual transactions, and we plan to launch and showcase the actual service in the near future."

Regarding the partnership with Coupang Eats, Chung explained, "We had to redesign the structure so that AI can naturally intervene while maintaining the existing service strengths of our partner," adding, "It took time to align the roles and responsibilities, business models, and operational standards between the two companies."

As for the background behind selecting delivery services as the first integration field, she pointed to the characteristics of everyday-close services.

Chung emphasized, "The delivery sector has high usage frequency and relatively low involvement, making the value of a fast and convenient ordering and payment experience greater than browsing," adding, "It is the field that can most clearly demonstrate the utility of an AI agent."

She continued, "From the point where sufficient reasons are established for users to continuously use it in their daily lives, we will ramp up marketing centered on specific use cases," and stated, "Through this, we will rapidly increase new users and lead to natural revisits."

Beginning with this collaboration with Coupang Eats, Kakao plans to expand its AI agent ecosystem to various vertical areas frequently used by users in daily life, such as commerce, reservations, travel, and payments.

(Photo: Yonhap News)