Google and Kakao Partner on Android XR AI Glasses and Kanana

SEOUL, South Korea — Google and Kakao Corp announced on Thursday a partnership to develop user experiences for Android-based Extended Reality devices and optimize on-device artificial intelligence services for mobile platforms.

Under the agreement, Kakao will develop interfaces for AI glasses powered by Android XR. 

The services will address hands-free messaging and calling through natural language interaction.

The collaboration involves the technical optimization of Kakao's on-device AI services for Android.

The primary focus is 'Kanana in KakaoTalk,' a service powered by Kakao's lightweight AI model.

The Kanana service is designed to analyze conversation context on-device to provide schedule briefings, information guides, and product recommendations.

Following a beta test launched in October 2025, Kakao said the Android version is scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2026.

The technical cooperation will prioritize on-device operation of AI models to reduce reliance on external servers while maintaining proactive user engagement features.

Shina Chung, CEO of Kakao, said the partnership was driven by a desire to explore opportunities by combining technical capabilities as the industry transitions into agentic AI.

Karen Teo, Google's Vice President for Platform & Devices Partnerships for Asia Pacific, said the partnership aims to integrate Google's AI technologies with Kakao's software ecosystem in the South Korean market.