South Korea's tech heavyweight, Naver Corp., announced the launch of HyperCLOVA X, a new and advanced Korean large language model (LLM) for artificial intelligence (AI), at the Team NAVER Conference Dan 2023 in Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas on Thursday. The unveiling comes as a response to the global AI trend sparked by OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This move not only positions HyperCLOVA X as Naver’s next growth engine but also underscores the company's pivot toward AI-led business initiatives. Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon highlighted the company’s R&D investment, which accounts for 22% of its operating revenue, and the support of Naver’s in-house internet data center in bringing HyperCLOVA X to fruition.

Alongside HyperCLOVA X, Naver introduced CLOVA X, an AI-driven interactive service built upon the new model and Cue:, a generative AI chatbot slated for a launch next month. CLOVA X, commencing its beta testing soon, offers dynamic responses and features the ability for multi-turn conversations. A unique “skill feature” is incorporated in CLOVA X, which interlinks multiple service application programming interfaces, enhancing answer quality and user experience. Meanwhile, Cue: is designed to comprehend intricate queries, providing answers from various viewpoints. Choi also highlighted the transformative potential of Naver’s generative AI products across its suite of services, from search and commerce to advertising.