Seoul: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang concluded his visit to South Korea with a strategic focus on expanding the company's AI partnerships beyond chip manufacturing to include a comprehensive AI ecosystem. This shift involves collaborations in memory, data centers, robotics, and smart factories.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the five-day visit resulted in significant agreements with major South Korean tech companies, showcasing the country's pivotal role in Nvidia's AI strategy. During previous visits, the emphasis was primarily on securing high-bandwidth memory supplies from South Korean chipmakers. However, the latest tour highlighted a broader initiative centered around "AI factories" and "physical AI," as termed by Huang, referring to AI applications in robotics and industrial systems.
The visit underscored Nvidia's evolving approach, as evidenced by engagements with South Korea's memory makers, who are thriving amid the AI-driven semiconductor boom. Samsung Electronics' memory chief Jun Young-hyun revealed discussions with Huang on future cooperation in next-generation HBM technologies and foundry collaborations.
A noteworthy development was the multiyear technology partnership between SK hynix and Nvidia to co-develop memory technologies for AI factories and future AI systems, including Nvidia's Vera Rubin platform. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won emphasized the partnership's role in shaping AI infrastructure's future.
Another focal point of Huang's visit was physical AI, which Nvidia sees as a key growth area beyond the current generative AI trend. This vision was highlighted in discussions with Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, focusing on autonomous mobility, robotics, and AI factories. Hyundai's Saemangeum project, a large-scale cluster combining AI, robotics, hydrogen, and data-center infrastructure, was presented as a significant initiative.
Huang also announced plans to expand Naver's Gak Sejong data center using Nvidia's AI infrastructure technologies, with initial capacity set at 55 megawatts and potential scaling to gigawatt-level facilities. Nvidia's partnership with Doosan Group is expected to integrate energy solutions into Nvidia's data-center platforms, leveraging physical AI technologies.
The visit also included collaboration with LG Group on electronics and AI technologies for humanoid robots. Nvidia's strategic partnerships extended to the public sector, as highlighted by the Korea AI Ecosystem Reception hosted by Nvidia. Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon emphasized the collaboration as a means to accelerate South Korea's AI ambitions.
Discussions with government officials covered the delivery of 260,000 Nvidia AI chips announced during the APEC process last year. The meeting reflected a broader shift in South Korea's AI strategy, moving from hardware manufacturing to deploying AI applications across various industries.
Bae noted that leveraging strengths in semiconductors and manufacturing, combined with AI potential, could enable South Korea to create successful use cases across industries through strategic cooperation with Nvidia.