Nvidia Secures Major AI Chip Deals With South Korean Tech Giants
US semiconductor powerhouse Nvidia has announced a series of major partnerships with South Korea’s government and leading corporations, including Samsung, LG, Hyundai, and several others, to supply over 260,000 advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips.
The chips will be deployed across South Korea’s factories and data centres to power AI-driven production in semiconductors, robotics, and autonomous vehicles, among other sectors. Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang described the collaboration as a pivotal step that will allow South Korea to “produce intelligence as a new export.”
Although Huang did not disclose the value of the agreements, the deal represents one of Nvidia’s most significant international expansions in AI infrastructure to date.
The announcement follows a remarkable week for the company – Nvidia became the world’s first $5 trillion firm on Wednesday and saw renewed optimism on Thursday after signs of easing US-China trade tensions, which could open the door for increased chip exports to China.
Speaking at a CEO summit during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Gyeongju, South Korea, Huang explained that the AI chips would enable Korean manufacturers to build “digital twins” of factories around the world, enhancing automation and global collaboration.
The South Korean government plans to use more than 50,000 Nvidia chips to power its National AI Computing Center and private data centres owned by companies like Kakao and Naver. President Lee Jae Myung has also pledged to make AI investment a national priority, with the goal of transforming the country into a regional AI hub.
However, Nvidia continues to navigate challenges linked to US-China trade restrictions. China, which previously accounted for over 10% of Nvidia’s revenue, has faced strict US export controls limiting access to its most advanced chips.
“We used to have 95% share of the AI business in China. Now we’re at 0%. I’m disappointed by that,” Huang said in Gyeongju, adding that he hopes future trade policies will allow Nvidia to resume sales of its Blackwell chips in China.
US President Donald Trump, following a recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, indicated that Beijing and Nvidia may soon hold talks on chip sales, with Washington acting as a “referee.”
Meanwhile, Nvidia’s share price continues to soar, buoyed by a flurry of new global partnerships – including deals with the US Department of Energy, Nokia, Uber, and Stellantis – that reinforce investor confidence in the company’s AI-driven growth strategy.
Huang summed up Nvidia’s vision, saying: “It’s in America’s interest to have the China market, and in China’s interest to have American technology. We’d like to see American innovation become the global standard.”
