Naver To Launch AI-Powered “AI Tab” For Smarter, More Interactive Search

Posted by By Dan Taylor 3 Min Read

Naver has announced that it will introduce a new AI-powered search interface called the “AI Tab” in 2026. This new feature aims to shift search from keyword-based results to a more interactive and personalized experience.

The announcement was made on Thursday during a press briefing in Seoul. Kim Sang-bum, head of AI search at Naver Search Platform, shared the company’s vision for the future of search technology.

From Search Results To Search Actions

The AI Tab will allow users to have multi-turn conversations with the search engine. These conversations can help users complete complex tasks directly within the search interface.

For example, if someone searches for “places to visit in Jeju Island with a 5-year-old,” the AI Tab can recommend kid-friendly destinations, suggest routes via Naver Maps, and even make bookings—all without leaving the search page.

Kim Jae-yeop, leader of intelligent search X at Naver, explained that this will be powered by “place agents” and other tools that understand the user’s intent and respond with relevant actions.

Built On Local Strengths

Naver is using its own large language models trained on Korean data to support this technology. These models are tailored to local users, giving Naver a key advantage in the Korean market.

The company says its full control over both infrastructure and content sets it apart from other global search platforms. “Naver is uniquely positioned to redefine AI search for Korean users,” said Kim Sang-bum.

A New Role For Integrated Agents

The AI Tab is part of a broader strategy involving “integrated agents.” These agents are designed to understand user intent and take appropriate actions across Naver’s unified search services.

This means users can expect smarter, more seamless interactions across Naver’s verticals, including shopping, finance, and local information.

Careful Approach To AI Ecosystem

Naver is also reviewing how to manage external access to its content. When asked if ChatGPT would be allowed to use Naver data, Kim said the company is still “carefully considering” its position as the AI landscape continues to evolve.

With the AI Tab, Naver is setting its sights on creating a search experience that is not only accurate but also personalized, seamless, and action-oriented.

The new feature is expected to launch next year.

Dan Taylor
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Dan Taylor is the founder and editor of International Search Insights (ISI), the publication behind ReadIsi, and a Partner and Head of Innovation (Search & AI) at SALT.agency. He has worked in search for more than a decade, in-house and agency-side, and is regarded as one of the West’s leading voices on search engines beyond Google, including Yandex, Baidu, Naver and Cốc Cốc. On ReadIsi, Dan covers the engines and AI answer platforms that English-language coverage tends to miss: Baidu and ERNIE, Yandex and Alice AI, Naver, Cốc Cốc, Shenma, Sogou, WeChat and Weibo search, plus DeepSeek and Alibaba’s Qwen. He also keeps dated records of documented changes, such as the Yandex, Baidu and Naver algorithm update histories and the DeepSeek, ERNIE and Qwen model update histories. His approach is to take learnings from global search engines and apply logic with a high evidence threshold. A claim needs a source, patterns seen in one market are treated as a hypothesis until they are checked in another, and where the evidence is thin he says so. For brands, that means advice built on what can be shown, with measurement that separates being cited from being chosen. Dan is credited with coining the term “edge SEO” and won the inaugural TechSEO Boost research competition in 2018 for his work on CDN and edge changes for SEO. In 2026 he was credited with coining “Infinite Tail” to describe how keyword research is changing with AI search. He is the author of AI Search Marketing For The Travel Sector, writes for Search Engine Journal, Search Engine Land and Travel Marketing Guy, and has advised technology, SaaS, travel and enterprise ecommerce brands, including Cloudflare, GitLab and Airbnb. He has given multiple talks and panels at the International Search Summit in Barcelona, and has also spoken at Optimization Moscow, brightonSEO, Google Search Central Live Deep Dive Asia in Bangkok, Athens SEO and the Asia SEO Virtual Summit 2026, where his talk looked at how Baidu, Naver, DeepSeek, Tencent, Cốc Cốc and Yandex built their own AI answers.
Founder & Editor