Overview
- Korea formally launched a two-track strategy to advance both foundation models and physical AI, enabled by the newly secured Nvidia hardware.
- Allocation details include up to 50,000 GPUs for a National AI Computing Center, 50,000 each for Samsung Electronics, SK Group and Hyundai Motor Group, and 60,000 for Naver Cloud.
- The deal is reported to be worth up to $10 billion and is expected to lift Korea’s GPU stock from about 65,000 to more than 300,000 units, placing it behind only the United States and China.
- Deployment is slated to start next year and run through 2030, with Nvidia executives and analysts flagging major power, cooling and water needs for the planned AI data centers.
- The partnership deepens ties with Samsung and SK hynix as key HBM suppliers and supports “AI factory” plans in manufacturing and mobility, while Nvidia’s sales to China depend on U.S. policy with no current Blackwell plans.