South Korean internet search provider Naver has unveiled its generative artificial intelligence offering HyperCLOVA X. Itoffers services similar to a ChatGPT-like AI chatbot, CLOVA X, and a generative AI-based search engine named Cue, which works similar to Microsoft´s Bing AI Search experience.
HyperCLOVA X is designed to empower businesses with AI, enabling them to unlock data and provide users with immediate answers. The platform promotes the use of ethical AI to ensure safety and is committed to fostering an AI ecosystem by offering conversational services, productivity tools, and AI tools for developers.
Key Features and Launch Dates
Naver's cloud division, Naver Cloud, which is responsible for the launch of HyperCLOVA X, announced that the beta service for CLOVA X began in both English and Korean on August 24. Furthermore, Cue is set to be available for beta testing in September and will be integrated into Naver's existing search engine by November.
Evolution of HyperCLOVA X
HyperCLOVA X is an enhancement of its predecessor, HyperCLOVA, which was introduced in 2021. While HyperCLOVA boasts over 204 billion parameters, the exact number of parameters trained on HyperCLOVA X has not been disclosed by Naver. Users interested in accessing HyperCLOVA X are required to sign up for Naver accounts.
Company's Vision and Expertise
Naver, which has a team of over 500 AI experts, is among the five global companies that have developed their own large language model with more than 100 billion parameters. This was shared by the CEO of Naver, SooYeon Choi, in a recent letter to shareholders. Additionally, Naver Cloud is in the process of developing multimodal language models for CLOVA X, which will be capable of analyzing and generating not just text but also images, videos, and audio. This was revealed by Nako Sung, Head of Technology and Hyperscale AI at Naver Cloud, during a company conference.
Global Competition
The introduction of generative AI by Naver comes at a time when global tech giants are striving to enhance their own generative AI offerings. Companies such as Microsoft-backed OpenAI, Google, Baidu, Meta, and Amazon are all making strides in this domain. However, Naver aims to target regions that have not yet been tapped by these global competitors, including South Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.
Infrastructure and Collaborations
In terms of infrastructure, Naver is set to inaugurate its second data center, GAK Sejong, equipped with 600,000 servers in South Korea, to support its generative AI services in November. Additionally, Naver has been collaborating with Samsung since December of the previous year to develop AI chips tailored for hyperscale AI.
