Seoul: Nvidia Corp. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jensen Huang has identified robotics as the next major growth sector in South Korea, emphasizing the country's readiness for expansion in this field. Huang, a pivotal figure in the global AI surge, shared these insights upon his arrival at Gimpo International Airport in Seoul for a four-day visit.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Huang's visit marks his return to South Korea less than a year after his previous trip, which coincided with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in Gyeongju. During his current visit, he plans to engage with key industry leaders, including an informal dinner with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, and Naver Chairman Lee Hae-jin. This gathering brings together representatives from various sectors within the AI value chain, positioning South Korea as a hub for technological innovation.
Huang has expressed intentions to collaborate with domestic manufacturing firms in the robotics and AI sectors. Highlighting South Korea's status as a global manufacturing center, he envisions applying innovative robotics and physical AI technologies to enhance industry processes. Furthermore, Nvidia aims to partner with South Korea's semiconductor companies to leverage robotics and AI in semiconductor manufacturing.
In addition to his industry engagements, Huang also visited an internet cafe in Seoul, meeting with esports players, including the renowned gamer Faker. He underscored South Korea's pivotal role in the esports world, where Nvidia's graphics processing units (GPUs) play a significant part. Huang's itinerary includes potential discussions with Krafton Executive Director Chang Byung-gyu, focusing on cooperation involving Nvidia's RTX Spark platform and other AI technologies. Krafton recently launched a robotics subsidiary, Ludo Robotics, reinforcing the intersection of AI and robotics.
Huang is also expected to meet with Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon to explore further cooperation in AI, specifically regarding the supply of GPUs. Details of this meeting are still being arranged, indicating ongoing efforts to strengthen AI collaboration between Nvidia and South Korea.