Project Stargate Samsung considers AI alliance with OpenAI and Softbank

According to Korean media reports, Lee Jae-yong, the chairman of Samsung Electronics, has invited the CEOs of OpenAI and the Japanese Softbank Group to a private meeting in Seoul. The three leaders reportedly met to explore plans for a Korean-American-Japanese alliance in the field of artificial intelligence and the previously announced 500 billion dollar "Stargate Project."

Samsung Electronics plans the implementation of a global, far-reaching cooperation project with this trilateral meeting. The chairman recently met with the heads of major global technology companies such as Meta, Amazon, and Qualcomm to explore opportunities for large-scale collaborations.

Samsung is currently not known for any officially recognized developments in the field of AI models. However, as one of the world's leading companies in memory semiconductors, the Korean conglomerate has also focused on developing high-bandwidth memory components specifically optimized for the needs of AI training in data centers. Additionally, the company operates its own foundries and actively incorporates AI into its televisions and smartphones.

The electronics group is trying to make up for its lag in AI chips with high spending. The company announced on Friday that it aims to maintain its research and operational expenditures at a high level. Last year, total investments amounted to 53.6 trillion South Korean won (38.5 billion dollars), slightly higher than the previous year. Expenditures on memory technology are expected to remain at the high level of the previous year in 2025, the management stated.

Internationally, many governments have recently launched programs to expand their local efforts in artificial intelligence. South Korea is no exception: by 2027, the country aims to invest 2.5 trillion won (approximately 1.8 billion dollars) in building AI infrastructure to create a "National AI Computing Center." Samsung, as one of the largest electronics companies in the country, plays a special role in this.

The Japanese SoftBank Group and the company known for the generative AI frontrunner ChatGPT are among the leading figures in the "Stargate Project" aimed at building a large-scale AI infrastructure. Up to 500 billion dollars are expected to be invested in this major project over the coming years. Other important technology partners that have announced several multi-billion-dollar investments include Softbank subsidiary Arm, OpenAI's major investor Microsoft, Nvidia, and Oracle.

Discussions about the "Korea-USA-Japan AI Alliance" are also likely to gain momentum. During his visit to Korea, CEO Altman not only met with Chairman Lee but also with the CEO of SK hynix, Choi Tae-won, among other leading figures in the Korean tech industry. According to reports, Altman and Choi discussed cooperation plans for AI services, data centers, and semiconductors. The OpenAI CEO was in Seoul to personally open the OpenAI developer workshop "Builder Lab": "Korea has strong AI-related industries like semiconductors and energy and is one of the countries actively adopting AI," Altman told reporters on the sidelines of the event. Speaking about Stargate, he added, "I think there are many good Korean companies that can contribute."

Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son was approached by reporters from the Korean business newspaper Maeil as he was on his way to the Samsung office building Seocho in Seoul. "I will discuss potential cooperation plans with Samsung Electronics," he confirmed as the reason for his visit. When asked if he would request investments from Samsung Electronics, he avoided a direct answer and said, "There are no concrete plans."

Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong had made headlines in recent years due to a high-profile bribery trial related to mergers and acquisitions. After the case, which had cast a shadow over Samsung's leadership for nearly a decade, Lee was acquitted just hours before meeting with Altman and Son. It is believed that this meeting signals a desire to give Samsung a new direction and to dispel concerns that the company is losing its way. "Chairman Lee Jae-yong has recently placed more emphasis on proving his words through results rather than through words," quoted the Maeil newspaper, citing an unnamed insider from the Korean tech landscape.(sg)