Korean giants ally with Nvidia for massive AI infrastructure build-out

South Korea's leading conglomerates are forging a powerful alliance with US semiconductor giant Nvidia, aiming to supercharge the nation's artificial intelligence infrastructure. This collaboration, involving titans like Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor, LG, and Naver, signals a concerted effort to build advanced AI data centers and capitalize on the global AI transformation.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang met with top executives from these Korean firms, including SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chairman Chung Eui-sun, to solidify plans for cooperation. The discussions focused on leveraging Nvidia's cutting-edge AI chips and software platforms to accelerate the development of "AI factories" – specialized data centers designed to create and process intelligence.

Specific initiatives include SK Telecom's plan for a new AI data center and Naver's ambitious project to co-build a gigawatt-scale AI infrastructure, four times the size of South Korea's largest existing data center, targeting markets across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. LG and Hyundai Motor are focusing on physical AI applications, particularly in robotics and autonomous mobility, with Nvidia recognizing Hyundai's developing cluster in Saemangeum as an "AI Valley."

This strategic partnership is poised to yield significant benefits for both Nvidia and South Korea. For Nvidia, it deepens its presence in a market rich with manufacturing data crucial for AI growth. For Korean companies, it offers access to powerful AI technology, enabling them to enhance their capabilities in areas ranging from advanced manufacturing to next-generation mobility and robotics.

“

AI Valley