OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has traveled to South Korea for meetings with Samsung Electronics and SK Group, according to ETnews. The reported agenda points to a central pressure point in the AI industry: access to the specialized chips and memory needed to develop and deploy advanced AI systems.
The visit included a stop at Samsung Semiconductor's factory in Pyeongtaek and meetings with executives from both companies. ETnews reported that the talks focused on a possible AI semiconductor alliance, investment opportunities, and cooperation around AI chip production.
Why Samsung and SK matter to OpenAI
Samsung and SK are important players because of their strength in HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) technology. HBM is described in the source as critical for AI chips, which makes it a strategic concern for any company trying to expand AI infrastructure.
Altman is said to have expressed a willingness to purchase HBM from Samsung and SK. That detail matters because AI systems require more than model research and software talent. They also depend on physical supply chains that can deliver the components needed for training and deployment.
The reported meetings do not amount to an official confirmation that OpenAI will produce its own AI chips. The source states that OpenAI, and Altman in particular, are reportedly pursuing such a plan, but that it has not been officially confirmed.
The chip shortage concern behind the talks
Altman has recently expressed concern about the existing and potentially growing shortage of chips for developing and deploying AI systems. That concern gives context to the South Korea visit.
If AI demand keeps rising, chip access becomes a competitive issue as much as a technical one. Companies building large AI systems need reliable hardware capacity, and any shortage can affect how quickly those systems are built, improved, and made available to customers.
The reported discussions with Samsung Electronics and SK Group therefore appear to fit a wider effort to reduce dependence on limited chip supply. The logic is straightforward: OpenAI’s products depend on AI infrastructure, and AI infrastructure depends on advanced semiconductors and memory.
A broader push into AI infrastructure
The South Korea talks sit alongside other reported conversations around AI chip manufacturing. According to the Financial Times and Bloomberg, Altman is in talks with potential major investors, including Abu Dhabi-based G42 and SoftBank Group Corp, to build a multi-billion dollar global network of AI chip factories.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) is reportedly also involved in the talks. The resulting chip entity could be an independent company with OpenAI as its primary customer, or it could be a subsidiary of OpenAI.
That structure would matter because it could place OpenAI closer to the production side of the AI market. Rather than relying only on outside suppliers, OpenAI could become directly tied to a larger hardware and manufacturing strategy.
The source also notes that OpenAI partner Microsoft, which owns 49% of OpenAI, unveiled its AI chips for the first time in November 2023. Microsoft is also working closely with Nvidia competitor AMD.
From models to the AI value chain
The reported chip activity is not the only sign that Altman is looking beyond software. In addition to developing AI chips, Altman is said to be working with ex-Apple designer Jony Ive to develop AI hardware for consumers.
Taken together, these efforts suggest an ambition to influence more of the AI value chain. OpenAI is already reaching end users through ChatGPT and developers through an API. The source says it has so far dominated the market with its models.
Samsung Electronics is also active in generative AI through work with Google. For example, Samsung's new Galaxy smartphone offers exclusive Android AI capabilities. That makes Samsung not only a potential semiconductor partner, but also a company already connected to consumer AI features.
During the South Korea visit, Altman also met with executives from AI startups in the country that have worked with or received investment from Samsung and SK, according to the report. That adds another layer to the trip: the talks were not limited to large manufacturers, but also touched companies in the surrounding AI ecosystem.
What is confirmed, and what remains reported
The clearest confirmed detail from the source is that Altman traveled to South Korea and met with Samsung Electronics and SK Group representatives, according to ETnews. The reported purpose was to explore an AI semiconductor alliance and investment opportunities.
Other elements remain reported rather than officially confirmed. That includes OpenAI’s plan to produce its own AI chips, the possible structure of a chip entity, and the full scope of any future cooperation with Samsung, SK, TSMC, G42, or SoftBank Group Corp.
Still, the direction is clear within the information available: OpenAI is examining how to secure the hardware foundation needed for AI growth. The meetings with Samsung and SK show how central AI chips and HBM supply have become to the future of the company’s products.