Altman Urges South Korea to Lead in AI Chip Production

Sam Altman, the chief executive officer of ChatGPT developer OpenAI, met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on June 9 and urged South Korea to lead in producing the chips required for artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

Altman was also interested in investing in Korean firms and collaborating with larger chipmakers such as Samsung Electronics.

According to local news sources, the CEO suggested that South Korea prioritize chips, as both system semiconductors and memory chips are required for artificial intelligence, as well as reduce corporate regulations to nurture AI projects and work toward establishing international standards.

Altman has expanded his travels to include Israel, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, India, and South Korea.

He recently embarked on a journey across Europe to debate the potential and challenges of artificial intelligence with policymakers and leaders.

During a conference in Seoul, Altman declared his intent to increase investment in Korean startups by stating, “We are actively exploring avenues to increase our investment in Korean startups.”

When asked about prospective partnerships with Korean chipmakers such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, Altman confirmed ongoing discussions and was willing to continue the dialogue.

According to Nikkei Asia, Samsung Electronics is responsible for over 40 percent of the dynamic random access memory semiconductor market.

Altman explained that artificial intelligence relies on transferring significant amounts of data, resulting in an increased demand for memory chips. He added that OpenAI presently uses Taiwanese chips but that Korea-made chips will be required shortly.

The rapid development and widespread adoption of generative artificial intelligence, following the launch of ChatGPT by OpenAI with support from Microsoft, are compelling legislators worldwide to establish regulations addressing the safety implications of the technology.

The European Union is advancing with its proposed Artificial Intelligence Act, which is anticipated to be enacted this year.

In contrast, U.S. lawmakers have proposed two new bipartisan bills addressing issues of transparency and innovation in AI.

Altman praised how Koreans embraced and experimented with ChatGPT upon its release, stating that Korea was among the earliest adopters of the service and demonstrated remarkable creativity in its application.

The CEO disclosed that OpenAI is actively pursuing establishing a Japanese office. In addition, he stated that the company would contemplate opening additional offices abroad as part of its plans.