Kakao Emojis Studio (image from Kakao)
SEOUL, Sept. 12 (Korea Bizwire) – Kakao, South Korea’s largest emoji marketplace, has decided to maintain its policy of prohibiting AI-generated emojis from being incorporated into KakaoTalk.
This decision comes after discussions with various industry stakeholders, who expressed concerns that AI-generated emojis could potentially disrupt the existing ecosystem of human creators and may pose challenges in terms of copyright recognition.
In April of this year, Kakao had initially announced a temporary restriction on the inclusion of AI-generated emojis. This move was prompted by uncertainties surrounding the scope of copyright recognition, particularly as generative AI technology gained ground in the emoji creation market.
Kakao also indicated its intention to establish a comprehensive policy addressing this matter later in the year.
The conclusion to uphold the prohibition on AI-generated emojis was reached on September 6 during the ‘Generative AI Policy Briefing for Kakao Emoji Creators’ held at Kakao’s Pangyo Headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.
The decision was the result of a collaborative effort involving creators, external experts, and Kakao itself.
During the briefing, researchers from the Korean Society of Artificial Intelligence Law presented their findings regarding emojis created with generative AI technology.
They emphasized that considering the current technological landscape, market conditions, and legal framework, the risks associated with AI-generated emojis were substantial.
Consequently, they recommended maintaining the restriction on these emojis in the short term.
Kakao has decided to maintain its policy of prohibiting AI-generated emojis from being incorporated into KakaoTalk. (Yonhap)
However, the researchers also suggested periodic reviews of the policy on AI-enabled emoji inclusion in the medium to long term.
They acknowledged that future advancements in technology to safeguard against copyright infringement, the emergence of new content markets, and improvements in legal regulations might alter the landscape.
They stressed that even if AI-generated emojis were eventually accepted, measures to protect the creative environment and maintain trust would be necessary.
A representative from Kakao emphasized that the policy restricting AI-generated emojis is not set in stone and may evolve in response to feedback from various stakeholders, including creators and users.
They stated, “We are committed to carefully considering and incorporating the input of our community members as we shape our decisions.”
Earlier this year, Kakao announced that it was open to proposals for adding emojis created using generative AI technology to KakaoTalk. The company intends to establish a policy regarding the inclusion of such creations, taking into account the creator ecosystem, domestic copyright laws, and broader societal discussions.
In the interim, Kakao has temporarily restricted the entry of emojis generated by AI.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
