South Korean internet giant Naver Corp. launched a free trial service of its generative artificial intelligence (AI) search engine “Cue:” on Wednesday, garnering industry attention amid fierce competition in the global generative AI sector.

According to Naver, Cue: is based on a search-focused generative AI model developed alongside the company’s large language model (LLM) HyperCLOVA X, which the company unveiled in August 2023.

CLOVA X, Naver’s previous conversational AI service, focuses on document creation and creative productivity tools for businesses and individuals. Cue: plays a different role by understanding user intent and enhancing search convenience, even for complex queries.

Many users note that the most significant feature in Cue: is its simplicity as it provides concise answers without the need to repeat the search process until the desired information is found.

They also find that what sets the service apart is the continuity between search, shopping, reservations, and payments.

For example, when a user asks Cue: for recommendations for a family trip to Gangneung in Gangwon Province for three days, it promptly provides information on major travel destinations and hotels available for immediate booking.

Cue: also offers a feature that goes beyond a one-time Q&A, helping users with additional exploration. It seamlessly integrates with Naver’s other integrated search results, allowing users to continue viewing additional content.

Also, it provides follow-up questions at the bottom, helping users discover related interests and information.

In the meantime, Cue:, like CLOVA X, avoids providing answers on sensitive topics such as political issues. The search engine can handle tasks such as creating poems or titles but tends to produce results with lower creativity when compared to other services, according to users.

Naver plans to further enhance Cue:’s quality and features throughout the trial and gradually integrate it into Naver’s integrated search engine from November 2023 onwards.

By Ko Min-suh and Lee Eun-joo

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