A New Image AI That Breaks the Korean Language Barrier: What Is "Duck Tape"?

Accurate Rendering of Korean Text Without Distortion
OpenAI Now Supports HWP Document Formats

An image-generating artificial intelligence (AI) model from OpenAI, capable of rendering Korean text with high accuracy and producing artwork that is virtually indistinguishable from real photographs, is set to launch soon. OpenAI has recently enhanced its focus on the Korean market, even adding support for recognition of domestic document formats.

On the 20th, an image of Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, drinking at a street food stall was posted on the social networking service X (formerly Twitter). This image was created using 'Duck Tape,' an image-generating AI model believed to have been developed by OpenAI. Screenshot from X

On April 20, the AI performance comparison platform Arena AI highlighted the newly launched image-generating AI model "Duck Tape," which is receiving favorable reviews. Arena AI allows users to enter prompts and evaluate outcomes without knowing which company created the model. After a user selects one of two responses, the platform reveals which AI model generated it. Currently, it offers four main features: general Q&A, image generation, web search, and coding.

Duck Tape is drawing attention for producing higher-quality images than existing image-generating AI models. The generated images are so realistic that they are often mistaken for actual photographs, spreading quickly by word of mouth. One user posted an image on the social networking service X (formerly Twitter) showing Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, drinking at a street food stall. In the image, Musk's hair is styled as it usually is, and the background is out of focus, making it easy to confuse the image with a real photo.

In particular, the model is highly regarded for its ability to accurately render Korean text within images. Previous image-generating AI models would often output random arrangements of consonants and vowels or produce distorted characters. Even repeated attempts to correct this would require significant time and often result in even worse outcomes. However, Duck Tape accurately implements Korean text in its images, eliminating the sense of artificiality typically associated with AI-generated images. Users have been sharing images created with Duck Tape on online communities, responding positively and calling it an "innovation that even eliminates gibberish."

Industry insiders believe that Duck Tape is an image-generating AI model developed by OpenAI. OpenAI has announced that it will unveil a new image-generating AI model on April 21 (local time). Duck Tape is expected to emerge as a strong competitor to Google's leading image generator, "Nano Banana." Last December, after Nano Banana gained significant popularity among users, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declared a "code red" (emergency management mode) and subsequently suspended the operation of its video-generating AI model "Sora."

OpenAI is accelerating its efforts to target Korean consumers by improving its understanding of the Korean language. On April 17, OpenAI officially announced that its generative AI model "ChatGPT" now supports recognition of HWP and HWPX file formats, the standard document formats of Hancom Office in Korea. Previously, users had to input text manually or convert file formats due to compatibility limitations. At a joint press conference with Kakao and OpenAI in February of last year, CEO Altman stated, "The AI adoption rate in Korea is astonishing. We will focus on the Korean market as well."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.