South Korean internet giant Naver is set to offer its latest artificial intelligence (AI) model, similar to the open source ChatGPT project, to foreign governments who are wary of the data regulations of US-based systems. This development will allow the company to provide their AI services to politically sensitive nations in the Arab world and non-English speaking countries, such as Spain and Mexico.
Naver’s Executive-in-Charge of HyperScale AI Development, Sung Nako, stated that the introductory agreement with Saudi Arabia is part of the country’s transition to the digital economy. This is particularly significant in the current context of the ‘new cold war’ in AI technology with the US government having more authority over data and information stored by companies in the US cloud system.
Naver’s AI model is roughly eight months behind OpenAI’s ChatGPT but excels at providing tailored services for Korean users. The company is already looking to expand beyond Korea and Japan, with Nako citing localisation as the key factor in the AI race.
South Korea’s internet search engine Naver boasts a number of profitable business divisions including the LINE messaging and services app, various entertainment platforms, and the HyperClova AI model, which was launched back in 2021. This innovative AI model enables the company to offer a much broader range of services, with the help of the well-developed IT infrastructure and the country’s strong semiconductor production.
Sung Nako has been with Naver for over a decade now and is in charge of developing the company’s hyperscale AI projects. He is an experienced leader with extensive knowledge of AI technology, ensuring that Naver’s projects comply with the country’s regulations and remain competitive on a global level.
