Kakao is integrating OpenAI's ChatGPT into its KakaoTalk messenger app, starting in October, allowing users to access the AI directly within the chat tab without a separate app. This integration aims to enhance user experience by connecting various Kakao services like reservations and music streaming in a conversational format. The initiative is part of a broader digital strategy to improve user engagement and create new monetization options amid declining user activity. KakaoTalk has around 49.1 million monthly active users but faces competition from platforms like YouTube and Instagram. The company seeks to unify services under an intelligent assistant framework, although there are concerns about alienating older users with significant interface changes. Analysts suggest that merely adding AI may not be enough to reverse engagement declines; Kakao needs to offer innovative experiences beyond messaging to attract a wider audience.