NCSoft (co-CEOs Kim Taek Jin and Park Byung Moo) is accelerating its AI business expansion through technology openness and the introduction of a monetization model. The company aims to broaden its AI applications beyond gaming, leveraging its proprietary technologies for diverse industries.

To strengthen its AI expertise, NCSoft has established NC AI, a specialized subsidiary focused on AI development. The division will be led by Lee Yeon Soo, head of NC Research, which oversees NCSoft’s AI research and development. The company has announced that NC AI will enhance the capabilities of VARCO LLM, its proprietary large language model, and apply it to various business domains.

NCSoft’s AI technologies, originally developed for game development, are now being repurposed for broader applications. TTS (Text-to-Speech) technology, designed to convey emotional expressions, holds potential for the media and content creation industries. AI-powered avatar clothing generation could introduce new possibilities in the fashion sector. Meanwhile, translation and operational AI will play a crucial role in game publishing and global business operations.

NC AI is already collaborating with multiple companies to validate its technology’s practical applications. The subsidiary's primary objectives include open technology, monetization, and network expansion. By providing its AI models via API, NC AI intends to make its technology widely accessible. The company plans to offer an initial free-tier model, followed by gradual monetization, enabling businesses to integrate AI solutions seamlessly. This approach is particularly aimed at startups that lack in-house AI development capabilities, offering them opportunities to collaborate with NCSoft.

Recently, NCSoft introduced VARCO-VISION, a language model integrating text and image inputs. Unlike most open-source vision-language models (VLMs), which primarily support English and Chinese, VARCO-VISION is optimized for Korean language processing. Given that most domestic companies currently rely on AI solutions from big tech firms like GPT and Claude, VARCO-VISION presents an alternative tailored for Korean-language applications. Notably, it has demonstrated top-tier performance within its model size category for Korean-language tasks.

With AI technology advancing rapidly, NC AI is positioning itself as a key player in the industry, bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI research and practical business applications. Through continued innovation, strategic partnerships, and scalable AI solutions, NCSoft is poised to redefine its role in the global AI market.

Sayart / Kang In sig, insig6622@naver.com