Persona AI

Persona AI Inc., a South Korean artificial intelligence firm, is carving a niche in the AI-enabled customer contact center market. Established in March 2017 by CEO Seungjae Yoo, the company has positioned itself as a key player in the development of proprietary AI technologies. Yoo, a serial entrepreneur who started his first software company in high school, founded Persona AI driven by the conviction that a Korean company could excel in developing AI for the Korean language. The firm is now managed under a dual-CEO system, with Yoo overseeing strategy and development, and recently appointed co-CEO Young Jung, formerly of Naver and Line, heading new business ventures.

The company's core business revolves around its proprietary natural language processing (NLP) engine, which serves as the foundation for its diverse product suite. Persona AI operates on a subscription-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model, providing what it terms AI Contact Center (AICC) solutions. It developed and launched Korea's first subscription-based, cloud-powered AICC in 2021. This model allows businesses, including small merchants, to create and deploy AI-driven services like chatbots and callbots without extensive coding, making the technology more accessible. The primary clientele consists of financial institutions such as KB Financial Group and DB Insurance, which leverage Persona AI's technology for services ranging from customer consultation to educating their own sales agents.

Persona AI's product portfolio is extensive, featuring solutions like 'Bottalks,' a cloud-based AICC platform; 'Callbot' for unmanned call centers; and 'KGPT,' an AI-based knowledge management system designed for enterprises concerned with data security. A significant differentiator is the company's focus on on-device AI. It has developed lightweight AI engines that can be embedded into semiconductors, enabling AI functionalities on devices without requiring an internet connection. This capability is being explored for applications in smart homes and automotive sectors. The company's technology has demonstrated its versatility through unique projects, such as a fully automated AI broadcasting system that generates and airs news 24/7.

The firm has secured significant investments to fuel its growth, including a pre-IPO round from Mirae Asset Venture Investment, KB Securities, and Korea Investment Partners, as well as strategic investments from Naver Cloud and SK Telecom. With an eye on a 2026 IPO, Persona AI is channeling funds into expanding its AICC business and advancing its on-device AI research and development.

Keywords: AICC, conversational AI, natural language processing, chatbot, callbot, SaaS, financial services AI, on-device AI, embedded AI, AI engine, contact center automation, Seungjae Yoo, KGPT, AI semiconductor, cloud AICC, voicebot, AI knowledge management, Korean AI, customer service automation, digital transformation