Upstage brings AI to portal Daum with new search summary feature

Portal Daum, acquired by AI company Upstage, has begun its full-scale AI transformation with the launch of an "AI Summary" feature that automatically condenses search results — marking the start of what the company calls a nationwide AI service push.

Upstage said Tuesday it released AI Summary on Daum as a beta service, powered by the company's own large language model (LLM) Solar. The company also plans to launch "AI Mode," a conversational AI search feature, before the end of the year as part of its broader effort to bring AI services to the general public.

According to Upstage, AI Summary works by having the LLM directly analyze web documents and compile comprehensive answers to search queries. When a user types a keyword into the Daum search bar, the feature returns a concise summary along with supporting sources. The AI automatically updates the content whenever information changes, ensuring users always see the latest results.

The feature handles not only short keywords but also full-sentence questions, interpreting the user's intent to generate relevant summaries. It also adapts its presentation to the nature of the query — displaying step-by-step lists for procedural searches and comparison tables where needed — to improve readability.

Upstage said Solar serves as the underlying model for the AI Summary feature. This marks the first application of AI to Daum since Upstage acquired AXZ, the operator of Daum, in May.

Upstage said the combination of its AI model with Daum — which draws more than 10 million visitors a week — is significant because it allows all citizens to easily use AI in their everyday lives.

With the addition of AI Summary, Daum's search will evolve into a hybrid system combining conventional keyword search with AI-generated summaries. The feature will roll out first as a beta service across six lifestyle-oriented categories: issues (real-time trends), finance, entertainment, health, dictionary and lifestyle. Upstage plans to expand coverage and release a full version before the end of the year.

AXZ also plans to launch "AI Mode" this year, fully replacing Daum's integrated search with a conversational AI experience. The feature goes beyond simple summaries, allowing users to explore a wide range of information through direct dialogue with the AI.

Solar is the national team AI model being developed through the government's "independent AI foundation model" project, in which Upstage serves as the lead organizer. Upstage has formed what it calls Upstage Company — comprising portal Daum and AI multi-platform firm Timely — with the aim of expanding its proprietary AI model into a public-facing service.

"Daum's AI Summary is a starting point that shows what kind of change an AI model can bring when it meets the daily lives of millions of people," Upstage CEO Kim Sung-hoon said. "Going forward, we will integrate Upstage's AI throughout Daum's services, and together open an era of 'AI for everyone' — where anyone can naturally enjoy the benefits of AI in their everyday life."