Naver to launch logistics unit and AI computing division
Naver is expanding into artificial intelligence and logistics. The company signed a major deal worth 2 trillion won ($1.5 billion) with a US-based client. It also plans to invest heavily in its fulfillment capabilities. Despite this, Naver’s quarterly earnings fell due to rising expenses.
On Thursday, the Korean internet giant announced its intention to launch a logistics subsidiary and broaden its artificial intelligence infrastructure business globally, aiming to diversify its revenue streams beyond its traditional search and e-commerce operations.
Naver’s quarterly revenue hit a record 3.47 trillion won. The decline in operating profit came from higher spending on AI infrastructure, content, and offline data.
CEO Choi Soo-yeon announced the news during an earnings call. Naver secured its first AI factory client, an unnamed US company. The deal covers computing services worth about 2 trillion won. It includes roughly 20 megawatts of capacity over four to five years.
Naver’s AI factory project with Brookfield and Nvidia will start operations in the first half of 2027 with an initial capacity of 55 megawatts, with revenue generation expected to begin at that time. By 2028, capacity is expected to expand to 200 megawatts.
According to Chief Financial Officer Kim Hee-cheol, Naver is currently in negotiations with over 10 potential clients outside of Asia, including prominent AI model developers, for the remaining 180 megawatts of capacity.
Choi noted that the scarcity of liquid-cooled data centers capable of supporting Nvidia’s next-generation Vera Rubin chips could potentially bolster Naver’s competitive position in the market.
Logistics expansion
Naver plans to establish a logistics subsidiary and expand leased fulfillment centers, leaving warehouse operations and deliveries to partners while using shopping data to forecast demand and optimize inventory placement. Choi indicated that the expansion could necessitate an investment of nearly 1 trillion won through 2030, although financing arrangements would be designed to limit the impact on cash flow and earnings.
Naver also plans to launch a personal AI agent app by year-end, connecting search, shopping, local services, reservations, and payments to perform tasks for users. Additionally, the company plans to introduce robotic delivery services at residential complexes in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the first half of 2027, combining its digital-twin mapping technology with Naver Labs’ Nuri robot.
In the third quarter, platform revenue rose 7.3 percent to 1.95 trillion won, while financial platform revenue increased 14.1 percent to 487.7 billion won. Global ventures revenue climbed 15.9 percent to 1.04 trillion won, supported by overseas commerce businesses and Saudi digital-twin projects.
