OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman announced a strategic partnership with Japan's SoftBank Group on Monday, signaling a significant expansion of the artificial intelligence company's footprint in Asia. Altman, who is currently in Seoul, South Korea, plans to visit India on Wednesday to engage in talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These developments come as OpenAI eyes growth in key Asian markets, driven by the rapid rise in demand for AI products.
South Korea presents a particularly attractive market for OpenAI. The nation's robust energy, semiconductor, and internet sectors offer fertile ground for the company's AI technologies. At a press conference held in Seoul with Kakao CEO Chung Shin-a, Altman highlighted South Korea's burgeoning appetite for AI solutions, noting that demand is growing "super fast." The partnership between OpenAI and Kakao underscores a shared commitment to leveraging AI as a new engine of growth, despite Kakao's current position behind local rival Naver in the AI race.
"We are particularly interested in AI and messaging," – Altman
Kakao's shares experienced a surge, rising 9 percent on Monday and continuing with a 0.2 percent increase on Tuesday, reflecting investor optimism about the company's strategic direction. OpenAI's interest in the South Korean market is further compounded by the country's plans to establish a national AI computing center valued at approximately 2 trillion won (US$1.4 billion). OpenAI is "actively considering" joining and investing in this ambitious project.
Meanwhile, South Korea's tech giants SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics play a crucial role in producing high bandwidth memory chips essential for AI processors, positioning them as key partners in the AI ecosystem. Altman is scheduled to meet with Samsung Chairman Jay Y. Lee and SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son during his visit to Seoul, indicating potential collaborations on the horizon.
In Japan, SoftBank will integrate technology from ChatGPT creator OpenAI into its products, further cementing the strategic alliance between the two companies. This partnership not only enhances SoftBank's technological capabilities but also aligns with OpenAI's strategy to extend its influence across Asia.
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