KakaoBrain

KakaoBrain is an AI research and development subsidiary of Kakao Corp., specializing in advanced generative AI technologies for Korean and Asian languages, including large language models like KoGPT and image generation tools such as Karlo. The company develops services tailored for the Korean market, with plans for expansion into English, Japanese, and other Asian languages, while also maintaining healthcare-related businesses. In 2023, KakaoBrain launched Karlo 2.0 and announced KoGPT 2.0, featuring 30 billion parameters, alongside the Karlo 100X Project, a planned 10 billion won ($7.6-7.7 million) investment fund for AI startups. Notable figures associated with KakaoBrain include Kakao founder Kim Beom-su and former CEO Kim Il-doo, who led KoGPT development and later founded Open Research, one of several alumni startups that collectively raised over 30 billion won by 2024. KakaoBrain was established in 2017 by Kakao Corp.