Nvidia Expands AI Ties with Hyundai, Samsung, SK, and Naver
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has returned to South Korea after fifteen years to announce significant expansions in AI collaboration with leading Korean technology firms including Hyundai Motor, Samsung, SK Group, and Naver. The announcement was made during the APEC Summit 2025 in partnership with the South Korean government, aiming to accelerate the nation’s AI infrastructure and industrial AI capabilities. This development follows recent U.S. agreements with Japan and South Korea to enhance cooperation on emerging technologies such as AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotech, and 6G communications.South Korea Secures Over 260,000 Nvidia GPUs for AI Development
The South Korean government announced the procurement of more than 260,000 of Nvidia’s latest GPUs to meet escalating AI demands. Approximately 50,000 GPUs will support public initiatives, including the creation of domestic AI foundation models and a national AI data center. The remaining GPUs will be allocated to major corporations such as Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor Group, and Naver to foster AI-driven manufacturing innovation and development of industry-specific AI models.Samsung and Nvidia Collaborate on AI Megafactory and AI-RAN for 6G
Samsung revealed plans to construct an AI Megafactory in partnership with Nvidia, integrating AI into all stages of semiconductor, mobile device, and robotics manufacturing. Utilizing over 50,000 Nvidia GPUs and the Omniverse platform, the facility will establish an intelligent network capable of real-time production analysis, prediction, and optimization. Additionally, Samsung and Nvidia, partners for over 25 years, are jointly developing HBM4, a next-generation high-bandwidth memory technology designed to power future AI applications. Nvidia’s collaboration extends to three Korean telecom operators—SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus—and the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) to co-develop AI-RAN, an AI-enhanced mobile radio access network that improves performance and reduces energy consumption. This initiative includes creating a global testbed for next-generation AI-RAN technologies.Hyundai Advances AI-Driven Mobility and Smart Factory Solutions
Hyundai Motor Group is partnering with Nvidia to develop AI infrastructure focusing on autonomous mobility, smart factories, and robotics. The collaboration will deploy 50,000 Nvidia Blackwell GPUs for integrated AI model training, validation, and deployment, alongside establishing AI research centers in South Korea to bolster the country’s physical AI sector.“AI is revolutionizing every facet of every industry, and in transportation alone—from vehicle design and manufacturing to robotics and autonomous driving—Nvidia’s AI and computing platforms are transforming how the world moves,” said Jensen Huang, Nvidia CEO. “Together with Hyundai Motor Group—Korea’s industrial powerhouse and one of the world’s top mobility solutions providers—we’re building intelligent cars and factories that will shape the future of the multitrillion-dollar mobility industry.”
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Nvidia Expands AI Ties with Hyundai, Samsung, SK, and NaverSouth Korea Secures Over 260,000 Nvidia GPUs for AI DevelopmentSamsung and Nvidia Collaborate on AI Megafactory and AI-RAN for 6GHyundai Advances AI-Driven Mobility and Smart Factory SolutionsSK Group and Naver Push AI Cloud and Physical AI PlatformsFinOracleAI — Market View
SK Group and Naver Push AI Cloud and Physical AI Platforms
SK Group, parent company of SK Hynix, is collaborating with Nvidia to establish Asia’s first enterprise-led manufacturing AI cloud. This platform leverages Nvidia’s simulation and digital twin technologies, providing access to government bodies, public institutions, and domestic startups. Naver Cloud, the cloud services division of Korean search engine Naver, is developing a next-generation Physical AI platform with Nvidia. This platform aims to integrate AI directly within physical industrial environments, spanning sectors such as semiconductors, shipbuilding, energy, and biotechnology to accelerate AI adoption optimized for real-world applications.“Just as the automotive industry is transitioning to software-defined vehicles, the era of ‘Physical AI,’ where AI operates directly within real industrial sites and systems, is unfolding,” said Hae-jin Lee, founder of Naver.
FinOracleAI — Market View
Nvidia’s strategic expansion in South Korea underscores a pivotal move to integrate AI across key industrial sectors. By securing an extensive GPU supply and partnering with major players in manufacturing, mobility, telecommunications, and cloud services, Nvidia is positioning itself at the core of South Korea’s AI ecosystem development.- Opportunities: Accelerated AI adoption in manufacturing and mobility; development of AI-RAN could revolutionize telecom efficiency; growth in Physical AI applications across industries.
- Risks: High dependency on Nvidia’s hardware and technology; geopolitical tensions could impact supply chains; integration complexity across diverse sectors.
