After SoftBank, OpenAI Partners with South Korea’s Kakao

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has partnered with South Korean tech giant Kakao, granting it access to ChatGPT for AI services. The deal expands OpenAI’s global network as competition intensifies, particularly with the rise of Chinese AI rival DeepSeek.

Kakao, which operates South Korea’s largest messaging platform, KakaoTalk, announced the collaboration on Tuesday.

Altman also reportedly met with key South Korean semiconductor firms, Samsung and SK hynix, both critical suppliers of AI chips. Discussions with SK Group chairman Tae-won Chey and SK hynix CEO Noh-Jung Kwak focused on AI memory chips, including high-bandwidth memory. 

DeepSeek’s progress has sparked concerns in Silicon Valley, with speculation that it may have reverse-engineered US AI technology. Samsung’s Jaejune Kim acknowledged the growing competition, stating the company is closely monitoring industry trends.

Despite the shifting landscape, Altman remains focused on OpenAI’s expansion. Speaking in Seoul, he highlighted the Kakao partnership’s significance:

“We’re excited to bring advanced AI to Kakao’s millions of users and integrate our technology into services that transform communication.”

Next Stop: New Delhi

These announcements come as a part of Altman’s world tour. The OpenAI chief is travelling to Japan, India, Dubai, South Korea, France and Germany to enhance the company’s global partnerships. In Japan, OpenAI announced a new feature called deep research for ChatGPT Pro Users, which conducts “multi-step research” from sources available on the internet to curate a comprehensive report “at the level of a research analyst”. 

In addition, SoftBank, a Japanese investment firm, announced a partnership to “develop and market” an enterprise AI solution called Cristal Intelligence. 

Altman is set to visit India on February 5. He is likely to meet government officials in Delhi and hold a developer’s meet in the capital. Attendees can check out the latest releases and pick up tips for using the OpenAI API. 

In an exclusive interview with AIM in November last year, Pragya Misra, public policy and partnerships lead at OpenAI and the only employee of the company in India, said, “He [Altman] just loves India.”