Kakao will hold its developer conference, if(kakao)26, to share its AI service strategy, development results and technical operating standards.

Kakao said on Sept. 7 it will run if(kakao)26 online and offline from Oct. 13 to 14 at its Kakao AI Campus in Yongin, Gyeonggi province.

The event, now in its 8th year, has the slogan “Connections Meet Intelligence.” Kakao plans to present directions for applying AI to the connection experience of its existing services and to set standards on AI safety and responsibility.

On the first day, Kakao CEO Shina Chung (정신아) will deliver a keynote speech under the theme “Connections for everyone, intelligence for one person.” Kakao plans to introduce its AI direction and services reflecting it.

Kakao will then have Design Chief Leader Daeyeon Kim (김대년) explain design directions for AI services that understand context. Byungseok Noh (노병석), performance leader for the unified foundation model, will present results and future plans for the agentic AI-based “Kanana” model. CTO Jaeha Song (송재하) will announce technical requirements for safe and responsible AI.

About 50 technical sessions featuring developers from Kakao and its affiliates will also run over two days. Key topics include AI strategy, mutual growth and development, and models and agents, sharing experience gained from applying and developing services.

The second day will cover AI governance, stability and infrastructure, and the AI-driven development lifecycle (AI-DLC) under the theme “The moment technology becomes trust.” The event will also run fireside chats, after-sessions for Q&A with speakers, and networking programs by job function and areas of interest.

Participants can apply from Sept. 7 until noon on Sept. 28 on the official if(kakao) website. Major sessions, including the keynote, will be livestreamed online. Videos of all sessions will be released as video-on-demand after the event ends.