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Artificial intelligence

Nvidia Partners with South Korea to Advance AI Infrastructure and Technologies

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Nvidia, a leading chipmaker, has announced a plan to supply hundreds of thousands of its graphics processing units (GPUs) to South Korean businesses and the government to advance the country's artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and technologies. The plan was announced in conjunction with President Lee Jae Myung and representatives from major South Korean companies, including Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Hyundai Motor. As part of this agreement, Nvidia will provide around 260,000 GPUs to support South Korea's AI computing and manufacturing capabilities, with 50,000 units going to each of Samsung, SK, and Hyundai to enhance their manufacturing processes through AI and accelerate the development of advanced semiconductors. Additionally, Nvidia will provide 50,000 Blackwell GPUs to Hyundai to collaborate on developing technologies related to self-driving cars, smart factories, and robotics.

Key Takeaways:

  • Nvidia will supply around 260,000 GPUs to support South Korea's AI computing and manufacturing capabilities, with 50,000 units going to each of Samsung, SK, and Hyundai.
  • The partnership aims to advance South Korea's AI infrastructure and technologies, leveraging the country's strengths in software, technical expertise, and manufacturing.
  • Nvidia highlighted the potential for robotics and AI to drive transformation across industries, emphasizing the importance of infrastructure and capacity in supporting this growth.
  • The agreement comes amidst ongoing discussions between the US and China regarding export controls on advanced chip sales, with Nvidia's CEO, Jensen Huang, expressing hope to eventually sell Blackwell chips to China.
  • The partnership demonstrates South Korea's ambitions in AI, with the country seeking to showcase its capabilities at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
  • Nvidia's GPU chips power much of the global AI industry, and the company has argued that US export controls hinder American competitiveness in one of the world's largest technology markets.

Statistics:

  • 260,000: The number of GPUs that Nvidia plans to supply to support South Korea's AI computing and manufacturing capabilities.
  • 50,000: The number of GPUs that will be used by Samsung, SK, and Hyundai to enhance their manufacturing processes through AI and accelerate the development of advanced semiconductors.
  • 50,000: The number of Blackwell GPUs that will be used by Hyundai to collaborate on developing technologies related to self-driving cars, smart factories, and robotics.
  • 2019: The year Nvidia broke the $4 trillion mark, underscoring the upheaval driven by the AI craze.
  • 15%: The percentage of revenue that Nvidia agreed to give to the US government in exchange for lifting export controls on sales of advanced chips to China.

Sources:

  • AP News
  • Nvidia
  • Samsung Electronics
  • SK Hynix
  • Hyundai Motor
  • The Associated Press (2025)

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