South Korea Poised to Lead in Physical Artificial Intelligence

Strategic Insights -

Artificial intelligence (AI) has entered a virtuous cycle, with AI inducing more usage, leading to more profit for companies, and ultimately resulting in better AI. AI chip giant Nvidia Corp.'s CEO Jensen Huang emphasized this cycle and highlighted South Korea's competitiveness in the industry. The country's AI chip manufacturer, Nvidia, plans to deploy up to 260,000 graphic processing units (GPUs) in partnership with the South Korean government and major companies, positioning the country as a global leader in physical AI. Korea's AI industry has the potential to bring about massive change, enabling humans and robots to work alongside each other.

Key Takeaways:

  • South Korea has the three essential qualities for success in the AI industry: software expertise, deep technical and science capabilities, and advanced manufacturing.
  • Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang emphasized that AI has penetrated into people's lives, inducing more usage, which leads to more profit for companies, and ultimately results in better AI.
  • The virtuous cycle of AI has been achieved, and the technology is expected to bring massive change to people's lives.
  • Nvidia plans to deploy up to 260,000 GPUs in partnership with the South Korean government and major companies, including Samsung Electronics, SK Group, Hyundai Motor Group, and Naver Cloud Corp.
  • Samsung, SK, and Hyundai Motor will each deploy up to 50,000 GPUs, while Naver Cloud will install around 60,000 units.
  • The total installed AI GPU capacity in South Korea will increase from about 65,000 to more than 300,000 units, positioning the country as one of the world's largest hubs for AI computing outside the United States.
  • The APEC CEO Summit, which wrapped up its three-day run, is the official business gathering of the annual APEC leaders' summit.
  • Nvidia's plan to deploy GPUs will enable South Korea and its partners to build large-scale AI factories and enhance the country's capacity for AI computing.

Statistics:

  • 260,000: Number of GPUs that Nvidia plans to deploy in partnership with the South Korean government and major companies.
  • 65,000: Current total installed AI GPU capacity in South Korea.
  • 300,000: Projected total installed AI GPU capacity in South Korea after Nvidia's deployment.
  • 50,000: Number of GPUs each of Samsung, SK, and Hyundai Motor plan to deploy.
  • 60,000: Number of GPUs that Naver Cloud Corp. plans to install.
  • 3: Days of the APEC CEO Summit.

Sources:

  • Yonhap News Agency
  • Nvidia Corp.
  • Jensen Huang, Nvidia's CEO, quoted in Yonhap News Agency
  • Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit
  • Gyeongju, South Korea (location of the APEC CEO Summit)