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KakaoTalk, the country’s popular messaging app, is experiencing a significant transformation after 15 years.

Kakao revealed its plan to revamp KakaoTalk, which had been known as the “Big Bang Project,” during the “if Kakao 25” developer conference held at the Kakao AI Campus in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, on the 23rd. Since its launch in 2010, KakaoTalk has primarily focused on chat services, but it is now rebranded as “KakaoTalk 2.0” after adding various social media features and AI capabilities following 15 years of operation. Chung Shin-a, Kakao’s Chief Executive Officer, stated, “This level of transformation is unprecedented in KakaoTalk’s history,” and added, “We intend to prepare for Kakao’s next 15 years by listening to user feedback and quickly adapting to changes in the era.” The updated KakaoTalk with new features will be gradually released starting from the afternoon of the 23rd.

◇ Incorporation of social media functionalities… Also includes the ability to edit messages

The most significant update is the transformation of the first tab, titled “Friends,” from a traditional phonebook layout to a social media platform akin to “Instagram.” Previously, the “Friends” tab showcased the phonebook contacts in alphabetical order. Now, it will be redesigned to display different posts shared by users. This will include profile pictures, status updates, and content on the profile homepage. A functionality allowing users to define the audience for their posts will also be introduced.

The second tab, titled “Chatting,” will also undergo a redesign. A “Message Edit” feature has been introduced, enabling users to modify messages they have sent within 24 hours. Edited messages will be indicated with a small note at the bottom stating “Edited.” A “Chat Room Folder” function will be launched, allowing users to classify chat rooms into categories such as “Family,” “Friends,” “Workplace,” “Ads,” “Public Institutions,” and more, based on their choice. Users can create up to 10 folders, each holding up to 100 chat rooms. Furthermore, an “Unread” folder will be added, which will gather unread messages separately. Tapping on the “Unread” tab will display only the chat rooms with unread messages. A source from Kakao mentioned, “In the future, we intend to introduce a feature that lets users preview unread conversations without entering group chat rooms.”

The “Reply” function, which enabled users to choose particular messages for their responses, is set to be discontinued and will be substituted with a “Comment” option. This new feature will handle comments on messages shared within group chats, categorizing them based on specific subjects. Hong Mintaek, Kakao’s Chief Product Officer, stated, “This feature will initially be implemented in open chat rooms.”

The “Voice Talk” function, enabling voice calls via KakaoTalk, will also undergo changes. With one button press, users can record Voice Talk calls, and AI will promptly transcribe or summarize the discussion. Hong CPO stated, “Some might consider the new KakaoTalk update convenient, while others could find it unfamiliar,” and mentioned, “The update is an effort to enhance the conversation experience.”

◇ AI search, conversation summarization, and other features to be implemented this year

Kakao plans to greatly incorporate AI capabilities into KakaoTalk. The aim is to let AI manage searches, scheduling, bookings, and payments within KakaoTalk. Initially, the search function will be introduced using Kakao’s AI service “Kanana.” At present, the “#” (hash) button on the far right of the chat input area enables searches, but this will be substituted with the Kanana search feature. Additionally, a functionality where Kanana condenses conversations in chat rooms with unread messages is also being developed. This will summarize the discussions in the “Unread” folder, which is part of the newly introduced “Chat Room Folders.” A representative from Kakao mentioned, “This feature enables users to quickly review conversation content without having to go through dozens of messages individually.”

Furthermore, OpenAI’s ChatGPT will be introduced next month. Previously, Kakao announced a partnership with OpenAI in February. By clicking the “ChatGPT” button at the top of the chat section, users will have access to ChatGPT, which will leverage OpenAI’s most recent model, GPT-5. Users will be able to use the same search and image creation features that are already available in the current ChatGPT. Additionally, the “Kakao Agent” will also be launched next month. It manages various Kakao services like KakaoMap and Melon through artificial intelligence. Users can access these services by simply asking the AI without needing to open individual apps.

◇ The success of the KakaoTalk update is contingent on user feedback

Kakao’s major transformation of KakaoTalk is viewed as an effort to boost user interaction time and enhance revenue. The average monthly engagement time per user dropped from 822 minutes in May 2021 to 686 minutes this January. A significant number of users in their teens and twenties do not even install KakaoTalk on their smartphones, preferring platforms like Instagram and Telegram for communication. An insider from the IT industry stated, “From Kakao’s point of view, it seems they had no alternative but to incorporate social media features to draw this age group to KakaoTalk,” and further noted, “They can also increase profits by inserting advertisements between different posts on the Friends tab.” Kakao has already begun placing ads between chat lists since the start of this month.

The effectiveness of the KakaoTalk redesign is contingent upon the opinions of most users. Among those who tested the new KakaoTalk on the afternoon of the 23rd, responses varied based on the specific features. One user remarked, “I was surprised by unexpected posts showing up after the update that I wasn’t really interested in,” while another commented, “I’m glad the message editing feature, which I really needed, has been added.”

A representative from Kakao stated, “We will take user opinions into account concerning this major redesign and enhance the features accordingly,” and further mentioned, “We plan to keep offering updates to ensure a pleasant user experience moving forward.”