Seoul: SK Innovation Co. has made a strategic decision to invest US$380 million in a U.S.-based subsidiary of its sister company, SK hynix Inc. This move is part of a broader initiative to explore investment possibilities in the artificial intelligence (AI) energy infrastructure sector.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the South Korean refiner's board of directors gave the green light last month for the investment in AI Co., a U.S. entity announced by SK hynix in January. The chipmaker had previously stated that the new affiliate is set to help secure opportunities in the burgeoning AI era.

SK hynix has outlined that the new subsidiary aims to establish itself as a significant partner within the AI data center ecosystem, with ambitions to accelerate AI advancement in global markets like the United States and South Korea. An SK Innovation official mentioned the company's interest in acquiring a stake in AI Co. to explore various investment and business opportunities, particularly in the U.S. AI energy infrastructure sector.