OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has secured a major deal with South Korea’s Kakao, marking the second significant Asian partnership this week. The collaboration, announced on Tuesday, will see OpenAI develop artificial intelligence products tailored for South Korea, further expanding its footprint in the region.
Altman, on a whirlwind tour of Asia, also forged a partnership with Japan’s SoftBank Group on Monday and is reportedly planning to visit India on Wednesday to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Kakao, the operator of South Korea’s dominant messaging app KakaoTalk, will integrate OpenAI’s technology into its products. KakaoTalk, with a staggering 97% domestic market share, has extended its reach into e-commerce, payments, and gaming. However, analysts note that Kakao has been lagging behind its local rival, Naver, in the AI race.
“We’re particularly focused on AI and messaging,” Altman said during a joint press conference with Kakao CEO Chung Shina in Seoul.
Altman also highlighted that several Korean companies will play a crucial role in the Stargate data center project, a collaboration between OpenAI and Oracle to enhance AI capabilities in the U.S. While he kept specific details confidential, he emphasized the importance of ongoing partnership discussions.
Earlier on Tuesday, Altman met with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won. He also plans to meet Samsung Chairman Jay Y. Lee and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son later in Seoul, according to Maeil Business Newspaper. Son mentioned that discussions would center on Stargate updates and possible cooperation with Samsung, though he did not specify if any investments would be requested.
Both SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics are key producers of high-bandwidth memory chips used in AI processors, making them crucial players in AI development.
When asked about OpenAI’s potential involvement in South Korea’s AI computing center project, Altman indicated that the company is “actively considering” the possibility, as South Korea continues to invest heavily in AI infrastructure. Last month, the South Korean government announced plans to build a national AI computing center as part of the Stargate initiative.
Altman emphasized the significance of South Korea’s energy, semiconductor, and internet sectors, calling the country a vital market for OpenAI. With investment from both public and private sectors potentially reaching 2 trillion won ($1.4 billion), Altman highlighted Korea’s role in shaping the future of AI.
Kakao’s shares rose by 0.2% on Tuesday, following a 9% surge the previous day.
