Samsung and SK are officially participating in the Stargate Project, a mammoth artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure construction project worth USD 5,000 billion (approximately KRW 702 trillion), in collaboration with OpenAI. The two companies plan to supply memory semiconductors such as high-bandwidth memory (HBM) to OpenAI and jointly develop data centers, which is expected to further strengthen the Korea-U.S. 'AI alliance'.

● Samsung and SK Strengthen Cooperation with OpenAI

On the 1st, Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, at Samsung Electronics' Seocho office in Seoul, to mutually cooperate in building global AI core infrastructure. On the same day, Chey Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group, also signed a memorandum of understanding for memory semiconductor supply with CEO Altman. Chairman Chey stated, "We will focus SK's integrated AI infrastructure capabilities, covering everything from memory semiconductors to data centers, on this partnership."

Samsung and SK will supply semiconductors related to OpenAI's Stargate Project. The Stargate Project, which involves constructing the world's largest AI data center, requires a massive amount of high-bandwidth memory (HBM). Approximately 900,000 wafers of HBM are needed monthly, which exceeds twice the current global HBM production capacity. Additionally, a large volume of DRAM and NAND flash memory semiconductors is required. Globally, apart from domestic semiconductor companies like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, there are no other companies capable of supplying such semiconductors stably. This is why OpenAI has come to Korea to form an 'alliance' with Samsung and SK. Consequently, Hynix plans to establish a production system that can respond promptly to OpenAI's large-scale supply requests.

Samsung has taken the signing of the LOI as an opportunity to enhance the group's AI capabilities. Key Samsung affiliates, including Samsung Electronics, Samsung SDS, Samsung C&T, and Samsung Heavy Industries, have emerged as OpenAI's contract partners. They plan to consolidate their core competencies in semiconductors, data centers, cloud, and marine technology to establish a comprehensive cooperation system with OpenAI.

● "Korean AI Can Take a Leap Forward"

The cooperation between Samsung, SK, and OpenAI is expected to continue in the long term beyond the semiconductor supply for the Stargate Project.

Samsung C&T and Samsung Heavy Industries will collaborate with OpenAI to develop offshore data centers. Offshore data centers, installed on the sea, have fewer space constraints and can reduce cooling costs. They can also decrease carbon emissions. However, due to technical difficulties in installation, only a few countries are preparing for commercialization. Samsung is venturing into this field with OpenAI. Samsung stated, "Starting with collaboration with OpenAI, Samsung will play a key role in Korea's leap to become one of the top three global AI powerhouses."

SK Group plans to build an AI data center dedicated to OpenAI in the southwestern region. In August, SK Group held a groundbreaking ceremony for the 'SK AI Data Center Ulsan' in collaboration with Amazon Web Services, strengthening its data center business in partnership with global big tech companies. SK Group emphasized, "SK's participation in the Stargate Project will solidify the AI economic alliance between Korea and the U.S."

Experts believe that the partnership between Samsung and SK with OpenAI will allow domestic companies to benefit from the 'AI boom'. Cooperation is expected to extend beyond semiconductors to fields such as power equipment, construction, and air conditioning. Kim Jeong-ho, a professor at the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at KAIST, stated, "Collaboration with OpenAI has provided an opportunity for various domestic industries to enhance their AI capabilities."

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