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| Screen captures of Naver's Clova artificial intelligence-based voice assistant application are seen above. When a user activates the app, he or she will see the left and center images in sequence. In the right image, the user asks Naver Clova to recommend a coffee shop in Hannam-dong, southern Seoul. / Courtesy of Naver |
By Park Jae-hyuk
Naver started offering its newly released artificial intelligence (AI) based voice assistant application to iPhone users this week after the new app's beta version became available for Android users late last week.
The nation's internet portal giant said that its app, Naver Clova, has an advantage in embracing for both Android and iPhone devices unlike Samsung's Bixby and Apple's Siri. The former is only for Android phones such as Samsung Galaxy smartphones, while the latter is exclusively for Apple iPhones.
Naver is seeking to improve the functions of the new app by accumulating user data and receiving feedback during the test period.
"AI can learn and grow itself as user data increases," a Naver official said. "Users of Naver Clova will experience differentiated services which will gradually provide personalized information and content."
Naver Clova runs on the AI-powered voice assistant platform Clova, which stands for "cloud virtual assistance." Naver and its Japan-based mobile service subsidiary LINE jointly developed Clova.
The app, the first multipurpose AI-based assistant from a local web portal, offers voice-powered search, scheduling, music recommendation, translation and emotional conversation as major functions. It can also activate various apps in a user's smartphone. The services are available in both Korean and English in women's voices.
Some users, however, may feel inconvenience using Naver Clova, compared to Bixby and Siri, both of which don't require users to install an app.
Naver may also face complaints of users who are not registered for Naver Music, because the app connects to the company's music streaming platform, when a user orders a certain song. If a person is not a member of Naver Music, only a minute long teaser is available.
Against this backdrop, Naver said it has secured a large amount of data over years through its search engine, and is confident in standing out in the market.
Its rivals have yet to offer detailed search services. For example, SK Telecom's NUGU can only read Wikipedia pages, when a user asks to search for Korea's presidents.
Naver is striving to upgrade the app so that it will be able to bring about more accurate results and recommendations down the road.
Naver Clova will compete with its rival Kakao's new AI-based app in July. The two Korean internet titans have aggressively invested in AI research to preempt the potential-loaded market.
Naver claims that it will be able to enjoy a first-comer advantage because it released the AI app earlier than Kakao. By contrast, Kakao counters that it will eventually win out. Kakao CEO Rim Ji-hoon said that "Kakao can link to the whole world through the company's specialized services."
