Kakao unveiled a major overhaul of KakaoTalk at its developer event, If Kakao 25, on September 23rd. The plan is to increase user retention on the messenger by integrating conversations and navigation into a single screen. CEO Jeong Shin-ah stated that starting today, the KakaoTalk chat window will become a window of possibility.
The most notable change is the transition of the Friends tab to a feed. Users can now view profile updates and posts in a timeline format and fine-tune their visibility. Open Chat has been redesigned to the Now tab, integrating short-form and community content.
The messaging basics have also been improved. Chat rooms can be organized into folders based on their purpose, and the ability to edit sent messages has been added. Voice Talk now includes call recording, text transcription, and summarization. A feature to quickly browse conversations in the Unread folder has also been announced.
Kakao's proprietary AI, Canana, provides on-device summarization, search, and suggestions. It has announced a gradual rollout within KakaoTalk following a beta phase. It is explained that the lightweight Canana Nano model will operate on-device, enhancing privacy.
Collaboration with OpenAI is also in full swing. Starting in October, ChatGPT will be available directly at the top of the Chat tab. The applicable model is GPT‑5. A Kakao Agent concept that connects to Kakao Map and Melon without requiring a separate app switch was also presented.
Kakao aims to expand KakaoTalk from a purpose-driven messenger to a search-based service, creating AI-powered user experiences ranging from search and reservations to payments. Success hinges on improved user experience and market response to the introduction of feeds.
