3.
Google is partnering with businesses to maximize their AI potential.
LG’s groundbreaking EXAONE 3.5 AI model is optimizing enterprise efficiency.
Google Cloud’s powerful AI infrastructure and scalable solutions were key to the success of LG’s EXAONE 3.5 model, enabling significant improvements in performance and cost-efficiency.
EXAONE 3.5, developed by LG AI Research, is a specialized enterprise AI model that utilizes domain-specific data to drive productivity and solve complex problems across industries like manufacturing, finance, and healthcare. EXAONE is a bilingual model, capable of understanding and generating both Korean and English, and multimodal, meaning it can process not just text, but also images and various types of data, providing a richer set of insights into complex industry challenges.
Google Cloud played a critical role in the model’s success by providing powerful AI infrastructure, enabling LG to reduce inference processing time by 56% and operating costs by 72% compared to previous versions.14 Through Google Cloud’s GPU resources and MLOps pipelines, EXAONE 3.5 was optimized for scalability, efficiency, and security, making it an ideal solution for enterprise environments.
“In the agentic AI era, LG is focusing more on creating practical business values by generating powerful synergies between LG’s own foundation model ‘EXAONE’ based on the Google Cloud Platform and state-of-the-art AI technologies such as document understanding, time series forecasting, material discovery, and the analysis of pathology images and genes.”
HWAYOUNG (EDWARD) LEE,
Vice President and Lead of AI Business Transformation Unit at LG AI Research
Samsung is bringing advanced AI to everyday life.
The launch of Samsung’s Galaxy S25 series with Gemini and advanced ‘Circle to Search’ marked a significant step forward in bringing advanced AI capabilities to everyday users.15
Samsung’s Galaxy S25 is the company’s first smartphone to feature Google’s Gemini as its default assistant. On the Galaxy S25 series, Gemini enables seamless integration across apps with the ability to power features such as live translation, calendar automation, and on-device transcription all at once, and is currently compatible with Samsung’s preinstalled apps and Google’s ecosystem.16 In addition, the device features advanced ‘Circle to Search’ capabilities, which allow users to search quickly by simply drawing a circle on their phone screen. The device received a strong consumer response, with over one million units sold within 21 days of launch.17
“Samsung and Google are working together to fundamentally reshape how people interact with technology. As AI shifts the focus from commands to intention, our shared goal is to create experiences that feel more natural and intuitive – helping users get to what they need, easily and accurately, across all devices.”
JAY KIM,
Executive Vice President and Head of Customer Experience Office,
Mobile experience Business at Samsung Electronics
Kakao is partnering with Google to change daily life for Koreans.
Kakao is emerging as one of Korea’s most dynamic AI innovators, developing advanced healthcare services that are shaping the next era of digital life.
Through Kakao Healthcare, the company is pioneering AI applications that integrate deeply with daily life and public health.18 A prime example that has already emerged is its mobile blood sugar management solution, PASTA, which uses AI to generate personalized insights to mitigate the risks of metabolic diseases.19 Another innovation, Karechat, brings conversational AI into hospitals through KakaoTalk, streamlining everything from appointment scheduling to payment with a chatbot.20
“Kakao Healthcare believes generative AI has the potential to fundamentally transform healthcare by enabling more personalized and efficient services. While AI adoption in healthcare settings is still emerging, Kakao Healthcare is already applying GenAI in practical ways through PASTA, HRS and “Karechat to generate actionable insights and support tailored care.
Since 2023, Kakao Healthcare has partnered with Google to accelerate digital healthcare innovation. This includes integrating Gemini 2.0 model into PASTA and Karechat, using AlloyDB for the HRS platform, and leveraging Vertex AI for federated learning. With Google’s open and flexible AI ecosystem, which allows each customer to adopt the most suitable models for their specific needs, Kakao Healthcare will continue working with Google to apply cutting-edge AI technologies across its healthcare services – enhancing user benefits and creating greater industrial value.”
DR. HEE HWANG, PhD,
Chief Executive Officer, Kakao Healthcare
Supported by Google, Smoretalk is bringing Korea’s artistic eye to the world.
Developed by Seoul startup Smoretalk, Flamel represents a new generation of AI-agent-powered design tools that are making professional image creation accessible to all.
Smoretalk, a Korean startup, launched its AI-powered image generation and editing service, Flamel, with the vision of providing easy-to-use, professional-level image creation tools for non-designers.21 Through the use of advanced AI technology, Flamel allows users to create and edit images simply by inputting a text prompt or uploading a reference image. Designed for planners, marketers, and other professionals, Flamel enables them to produce high-quality visuals without requiring design expertise. Flamel is increasingly being used in advertising and marketing, and Smoretalk is now preparing to expand into the short-form content generation market to better support marketers.
Google played a pivotal role in Smoretalk’s success by providing essential resources through its Google for Startups program (such as AI Academy APAC), which is designed to support growth-stage startups with the resources and mentorship they need to thrive.22 Through the program, Smoretalk had access to Google Cloud Credits and was able to accelerate AI learning and improve Flamel’s user experience by integrating advanced models like Imagen 3 and Gemini 1.5 Flash.23 Mentorship from Google experts helped optimize their AI infrastructure, ensuring efficiency and scalability. Additionally, Google’s public relations support increased awareness of Flamel, attracting investors and corporate clients. These resources and guidance were instrumental in helping Smoretalk grow and expand its services globally.
“Through Google’s official Imagen 3 Early Access, we’ve been able to deliver higher quality results to our customers with greater consistency and fewer biases in the data.
What truly sets the Google AI Academy Program apart is that it goes far beyond a one-off technical integration—we’ve received ongoing, practical support that directly improves how we bring value to users at every touchpoint, along with continued exposure through Google’s external promotion efforts.”
HYEONJI HWANG,
Co-founder and CEO,
Smoretalk
Stra’s KPop Pro is spreading Korean music to new audiences.
Supported by the Google Play ChangGoo Program for early-stage app & gaming startups, Stra is reshaping the global reach of Kpop by leveraging AI to bring Korean music and artists closer to international fans, while preserving the unique character of each performance.24
The company’s flagship app, Kpop Pro, offers AI-powered translation and romantization of lyrics, helping overseas fans better understand and connect with Kpop songs.25 Stra’s proprietary AI technologies preserve the artist’s vocal tone and style, delivering an authentic listening experience across multiple languages and cultures.26
Stra’s success has been supported by its selection as one of the Top 3 apps in the Google Play ChangGoo Program, a highly impactful public-private initiative sponsored by Google, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development.27 Launched in 2019, the ChangGoo Program was designed to support early-stage app & gaming startups in Korea, providing marketing, consulting, and investment opportunities. The program has successfully supported 660 app game startups in Korea over its seven-year period. Google’s involvement in the program has been integral, offering participating startups access to its global networks, mentorship, tools, and resources.
“Kpop Pro’s AI Lyric and Cover features let English-speaking users perform Korean songs in their own voices—just like the original artist—tearing down language barriers and unlocking a fresh, participatory fan experience. The era of ‘artists create, audiences only consume’ is long over; today’s fans want to remix, re-create, and share—and AI is the tool that makes it effortless. Our mobile app delivers a teen-friendly UX that puts AI in everyone’s hands, and our partnership with Google Play helps us reach Kpop fans around the globe. Thanks to Kpop Pro, an Indian teenage fan can sing along with a Brazilian fan—inside the app—bonding over the Korean artist they both love.
Since Kpop Pro is a product targeting global Kpop fans, international promotion has been essential. Our partnership with Google Play allowed us to effectively reach overseas users. The promotional video for Kpop Pro on Google Play exceeded 5 million views, successfully introducing the app to international audiences. As a result, we saw a steady influx of loyal users from countries like the U.S. and Brazil—markets that had previously shown limited engagement. Additionally, Google’s in-app payment system enabled our small Korean startup to generate global revenue without the complexities of setting up foreign entities.”
YONGHO KIM,
CEO, STRA AI, Inc
AI will power Korea’s next chapter on the world stage.
Korea has already been one of the economic success stories of the last few decades, transforming itself into one of the most creative and innovative economies in the world. AI offers an opportunity to catalyze this further: enabling new business models, supercharging creators, and boosting productivity. If implemented correctly, this could help Korea create a more diversified economy, meet its productivity challenges and better support an aging population. Further, it could help Korea to continue to grow its global footprint, with AI helping expand the reach of exports across existing Korean strengths, in tech, manufacturing and media.
Note: All data points, unless otherwise specified, are derived by Public First’s own research & modelling. These are estimations, and the figures have been rounded up.