OpenAI Strengthens Alliance With Samsung Electronics After Signing LOI, Visits Pyeongtaek DRAM Plant

Six core members from OpenAI’s research and development team visited Samsung Electronics’ Pyeongtaek Campus, reinforcing the companies’ partnership on the “Stargate” ultra-large artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure project.

According to industry sources on October 2, a day after signing a letter of intent (LOI) for global data center investment, OpenAI’s high-level R&D representatives toured the heart of Samsung Electronics, the global leader in memory production.

The delegation began their visit with a commemorative photo at the administration building lobby and watched a corporate introduction film that highlighted Samsung’s history and global leadership in the semiconductor industry.

In subsequent discussions, both parties engaged in in-depth dialogue regarding the future direction of collaboration for advanced data center infrastructure.

OpenAI’s team also toured the production lines within the Pyeongtaek Campus, witnessing firsthand Samsung’s cutting-edge capabilities in memory semiconductors. The group paid particular attention to Samsung’s AI-focused product portfolio, including High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), GDDR, large-capacity DRAM, and solid-state drives (SSD), gaining direct insights into the company’s diverse semiconductor technologies.

Market analysis firm Omdia estimates that, by 2025, the Pyeongtaek Campus will account for 49% of Samsung’s total DRAM wafer production, with the figure projected to rise to 53% next year.

This is not the first time OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has paid a visit; he previously toured the facility in January last year to observe the semiconductor production lines.

Industry insiders interpret this latest visit as a concrete step toward strengthening cooperation between the two companies, as well as a moment to solidify mutual trust in their partnership within the global AI infrastructure sector. The visit to the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturing base is seen as further consolidating OpenAI’s trust in Samsung’s memory prowess.

One industry official commented, “This visit has clearly demonstrated that Samsung is a trusted partner in the global data center supply chain.”

Just a day prior, Samsung and OpenAI signed an LOI agreeing to cooperate on supplying up to 900,000 wafers per month for the Stargate project, underlining their deepening collaboration.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=Samsung Electronics, Yonhap News