800-person conference set for Sept. 29 at Busan Port Exhibition and Convention Center

Kakao AX cases, global AI trends on agenda; registration open through Sunday

A promotional image for Kakao's technology conference "Kakao AI Dot Summit 26" [Kakao]
A promotional image for Kakao's technology conference "Kakao AI Dot Summit 26" [Kakao]

Kakao will hold a technology conference called "Kakao AI Dot Summit 26," showcasing its AI transformation cases and sharing technology trends to support the growth of regional AI companies.

Kakao announced Tuesday that Kakao AI Dot — its initiative for nurturing regional AI talent and companies — will host the Kakao AI Dot Summit 26 on Sept. 29 at the Busan Port Exhibition and Convention Center (BPEX). The event is expected to draw about 800 participants, including entrepreneurs, startup officials, students and developers.

Kakao said it aims to use the event to communicate the vision and strategic direction of Kakao AI Dot, and to build a foundation for regional AI innovation companies and a sustainable AI ecosystem through domestic and international technology exchange.

Kakao AI Dot is a private-sector collaborative initiative that combines the technology and business infrastructure of the Kakao Group with the research and technology capabilities of four science and technology institutes — KAIST, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) and Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) — to support regional AI talent development, startups and business growth.

The theme of the conference is "Sailing Toward the Future, a Voyage of Possibilities," which Kakao said reflects the idea of regional AI talent and innovative companies expanding their growth potential through technology exchange. Practitioners in charge of technology development at Kakao and its affiliates, global tech experts, regional entrepreneurs and academic specialists are all expected to present at the event.

The keynote session will introduce Kakao AI Dot's vision, business direction and AI infrastructure. Individual sessions will cover Kakao Group's AI transformation strategy and industry-specific AI adoption cases, a panel discussion with regional entrepreneurs, and presentations from global technology partners on their solutions.

Global partner booths will also be set up at the venue, where attendees can experience the latest AI technologies and solutions firsthand and hold business consultations. Kakao said it expects participants to gain insights on applying AI technology to their startup and research activities through on-site exchanges with domestic and international technology partners.

On the day of the event, an AI agent hackathon called "Ralphton" will also be held for aspiring entrepreneurs. Ralphton is an immersive startup program in which participants use AI agents to validate ideas and build a demonstrable product within a single day. Students from the four science and technology institutes and regional talent are expected to take part to test the feasibility of actual product development and commercialization.

"This conference is a gathering where AI technology, talent and industry players come together in Busan to unite around revitalizing the regional AI ecosystem," said Kim Young-deok, head of the Kakao AI Dot Center. "We will connect the insights of domestic and international technology partners, drawing on Kakao's technological capabilities and business experience as well as the research strengths of the four science and technology institutes, to help regional companies advance into global markets."


chami@heraldcorp.com