Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s recent visit to South Korea marks a significant milestone in the company’s strategy to deepen its collaboration with major Korean tech giants. This trip, Huang’s first in 15 years, coincides with a series of announcements that underscore the growing importance of AI in transforming industries and the role of strategic partnerships in driving innovation. From manufacturing and mobility to cloud computing, Nvidia is teaming up with Hyundai, Samsung, SK, and Naver to accelerate South Korea’s AI adoption and build next-generation technologies.
### Nvidia and South Korea’s AI Ambitions
South Korea’s push to become a global leader in AI is getting a major boost. The country has announced plans to secure over 260,000 of Nvidia’s latest GPUs to meet the soaring demand for AI capabilities. Of these, 50,000 GPUs will be dedicated to public initiatives, including the development of domestic AI foundation models and the establishment of a national AI data center. The remaining 200,000 will be allocated to leading companies like Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor Group, and Naver, enabling them to accelerate AI-driven innovation in manufacturing and industry-specific AI model development.
This move aligns with the U.S. government’s recent technology agreements with Japan and South Korea, aimed at fostering collaboration on critical technologies such as AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotech, and 6G. By securing these high-performance GPUs, South Korea is signaling its commitment to competing on the global stage in the AI race.
### Samsung and Nvidia: AI-Driven Manufacturing and 6G
Samsung is at the forefront of Nvidia’s partnerships in South Korea. The two companies are collaborating on building an AI mega-factory that integrates AI into every stage of manufacturing for semiconductors, mobile devices, and robotics. This factory will leverage over 50,000 Nvidia GPUs and the Nvidia Omniverse platform to create an intelligent network capable of analyzing, predicting, and optimizing production in real time. This partnership is set to revolutionize manufacturing efficiency and precision.
In addition to manufacturing, Samsung and Nvidia are working together on a next-generation memory technology called HBM4, designed to power future AI applications. This collaboration highlights the importance of advanced hardware in enabling cutting-edge AI capabilities.
Another key area of partnership is AI-RAN (AI Radio Access Network). Nvidia, Samsung, and leading Korean telecom operators SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus are teaming up with the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) to co-develop next-generation AI-RAN. AI-RAN combines mobile base stations with AI to enhance performance and reduce battery consumption. The agreement also includes the creation of a global testbed for AI-RAN, positioning South Korea as a leader in 6G technology development.
### Hyundai and Nvidia: Accelerating AI in Mobility and Factories
Hyundai Motor Group is another major player in Nvidia’s South Korean partnerships. The two companies are collaborating on building AI infrastructure and advancing physical AI technologies. Their efforts will focus on autonomous mobility, smart factories, and robotics. As part of this collaboration, Hyundai will use 50,000 Nvidia Blackwell GPUs for integrated AI model training, validation, and deployment. Additionally, Nvidia and Hyundai will establish AI research centers in South Korea to strengthen the country’s physical AI industry.
Physical AI, as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang emphasized, is transforming industries like transportation. From vehicle design and manufacturing to robotics and autonomous driving, AI is reshaping how the world moves. Hyundai’s partnership with Nvidia is poised to accelerate the development of intelligent cars and factories that will shape the future of the mobility industry.
### SK and Naver: AI Cloud and Physical AI
SK Group, the parent company of SK Hynix, is working with Nvidia to build Asia’s first enterprise-led manufacturing AI cloud. This platform will leverage Nvidia’s simulation and digital twin technologies, providing access to the government, public institutions, and domestic startups. The goal is to accelerate AI adoption in manufacturing by enabling companies to simulate and optimize production processes in a virtual environment.
Naver, South Korea’s leading search engine and cloud provider, is also collaborating with Nvidia on a next-generation “Physical AI” platform. This platform aims to connect the physical and digital worlds, enabling AI to operate directly within real-world industrial sites and systems. Naver plans to deploy this infrastructure across key industries such as semiconductors, shipbuilding, energy, and biotechnology.
### The Bigger Picture: AI and Hardware Fusion
Nvidia’s partnerships with South Korea’s biggest tech companies highlight a broader trend: the fusion of AI and hardware across industries. From Samsung’s AI-driven manufacturing to Hyundai’s software-defined vehicles, SK Group’s industrial AI applications, and Naver’s cloud services, these collaborations demonstrate how global tech leaders are joining forces to create intelligent systems that transform industries.
This wave of partnerships is part of Nvidia’s broader push to expand its AI ecosystem. Earlier this week, the company announced collaborations with companies like Eli Lilly, Palantir, Uber, and Joby Aviation, as well as the U.S. Department of Energy. These deals, coupled with its work in South Korea, position Nvidia at the heart of the AI revolution.
As Jensen Huang emphasized, AI is revolutionizing every industry, and companies that fail to adapt risk being left behind. With its South Korean partnerships, Nvidia is not only strengthening its position in the global AI race but also paving the way for a future where AI is deeply integrated into every aspect of business and society.
In a world where technology moves at breakneck speed, these collaborations are a reminder of the power of strategic partnerships in driving innovation. As South Korea and Nvidia work together to build the future of AI, the ripple effects of these efforts will be felt across industries and borders, shaping the next generation of intelligent systems.
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