Korea Unveils $950 Billion AI Initiatives with Samsung and SK Group

Doha, Qatar Jul 26, 2026 ALN: The Republic of Korea has made a significant move in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) by unveiling a comprehensive $950 billion initiative that involves major collaborations with industry giants such as Samsung Electronics and SK Group, alongside partnerships with various US tech firms. This announcement comes at a time when global leaders in AI are racing to meet the surging demand for advanced computing capabilities, specifically the faster chips essential for developing sophisticated AI systems.

In a monumental step, SK Group has confirmed deals totaling $750 billion. A key highlight of this is the partnership between SK Hynix, a leading memory chip manufacturer, and Nvidia, a titan in the GPU market, which is valued at over $500 billion. This partnership was officially acknowledged by Korea's presidential Blue House during an AI summit hosted by President Lee Jae Myung in San Francisco, which aimed to foster international cooperation in AI technology.

Alongside SK Group, Samsung Electronics has also entered into a memorandum of understanding with Broadcom, which is projected to cover up to $200 billion. This agreement encompasses various critical areas, including the development of memory chips, foundry services, and advanced packaging technologies. The collaboration between these major players is indicative of the urgent need for robust supply chains as the demand for chips and computing infrastructure continues to outpace current supply capabilities.

President Lee's remarks during the summit underscored Korea's ambition to spearhead a new era of AI innovation in partnership with global technology firms. He highlighted the nation's "dynamic AI ecosystem" and its potential to expand both industrial and personal AI applications on a global scale. Lee introduced the "San Francisco AI Declaration," which outlines Korea's strategic goals for technological cooperation with the United States in the AI sector. This declaration is seen as a commitment to fostering a collaborative environment that encourages innovation and technological advancement.

During the summit, President Lee had the opportunity to meet with several prominent figures in the tech industry, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, and Broadcom CEO Hock Tan. These meetings are crucial as they facilitate dialogue between leading minds in AI and semiconductor technology, paving the way for future collaborations.

In a noteworthy development, Nvidia and SK Group have announced a new AI initiative valued at $500 billion, which focuses on establishing large-scale AI data centers and developing next-generation memory solutions. This initiative is particularly significant as it includes a long-term partnership with SK Hynix aimed at securing next-generation memory supplies for Nvidia. The two companies plan to jointly develop high-bandwidth memory that will be essential for AI training, AI agents, and various physical AI applications.

As part of this ambitious agreement, SK Telecom is set to construct a 2-gigawatt data center that will be powered by Vera Rubin chips and SK Hynix's HBM4 high-bandwidth memory chips. This data center is expected to be operational by 2027, marking a significant step in enhancing Korea's data processing capabilities and supporting the burgeoning AI landscape.

Samsung Electronics has also announced plans to collaborate with Broadcom on the development of next-generation AI accelerators, leveraging Samsung's advanced HBM technology. This partnership aims to provide sub-2-nanometer foundry processes and innovative packaging solutions, which are critical for the performance and efficiency of AI systems.

Chairman Chey Tae-won of SK Group highlighted the increasing demand for memory from AI customers, noting that discussions with industry leaders such as Nvidia, Anthropic, OpenAI, and Broadcom revealed a growing need for memory that far exceeds previous estimates. Chey expressed his anticipation that Nvidia's projected memory requirements over the next five years might soon surpass current expectations, stating, "I wouldn't be surprised if, the next time I see (Huang), he tells me those figures were too low and says, 'I want more.'" This sentiment reflects the rapidly evolving landscape of AI technology and the corresponding demand for advanced computing resources.

Chey also indicated that Broadcom's CEO Hock Tan shared similar concerns regarding the company's memory demand likely exceeding available supply. The urgency of these discussions underscores the competitive nature of the AI sector, where companies are vying for access to critical resources that will enable them to enhance their AI capabilities.

Additionally, Anthropic has been actively inquiring about future chip availability as it transitions from developing AI models to building its own computing capacity. Chey stated that OpenAI has expressed a need for substantial computing power and has urged SK Group to supply chips directly to the organization responsible for ChatGPT. This highlights the critical role that semiconductor supply chains play in the success of AI initiatives.

Furthermore, Chey mentioned that Anthropic is exploring its own "computing power" without providing further specifics, which may suggest that the AI lab is considering a strategy to design its own chips, as reported by Reuters. An Anthropic spokesperson confirmed that the startup is consistently exploring options and utilizing a range of chips to adopt a diversified computing approach. This strategy reflects a broader trend in the industry where companies are looking to secure their own supply chains to ensure they can meet the demands of their AI applications.

Although Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei did not comment on the reported plans for chip design, he did confirm that the company had signed supply deals with both Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, indicating a commitment to leveraging their technologies for memory, storage, and logic chips. This collaboration is particularly noteworthy given Anthropic's recent funding round, which valued the company at a staggering $965 billion, with Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron recognized as key partners in supplying the necessary technological resources.

The implications of these initiatives are profound, as they not only signify Korea's commitment to becoming a leader in the AI sector but also highlight the crucial role that semiconductor technology plays in the development of AI applications. As the demand for advanced chips continues to grow, the partnerships formed during this summit may set the stage for significant advancements in AI capabilities, ultimately influencing various industries and potentially reshaping the global tech landscape.

In summary, the Republic of Korea's ambitious $950 billion AI initiative, bolstered by partnerships with Samsung, SK Group, and major US tech firms, represents a strategic move to secure a leadership position in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. The collaborations established during this summit are expected to enhance the capabilities of AI systems, address the pressing demand for advanced chips, and foster a collaborative environment for technological innovation on a global scale.