JAKARTA - Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang believes robotics will be the next big growth sector for South Korea. The country is considered to have strong capital because it has become one of the world's manufacturing centers.
Citing a Yonhap report, Friday, June 5, Huang said this after arriving at Gimpo International Airport, Seoul, on his private jet for a four-day visit.
"South Korea has many sectors for investment. Robotics will be the next big sector," Huang told reporters. He added that the Korean market "is going very well".
When asked if he was bringing a gift for South Korea, Huang replied lightly.
"Did I bring a gift for Korea? I brought a lot of business for Korea," he said, quoted by Yonhap. "I have some surprises."
This visit comes less than a year after Huang came to South Korea last October, coinciding with the APEC CEO Summit in Gyeongju.
At the time, Huang drew public attention after eating Korean fried chicken and drinking beer, or chimaek, with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung.
During this visit, one of the most anticipated agendas is an informal dinner with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, and Naver Chairman Lee Hae-jin. The Hyundai Motor Group leadership, who were originally expected to attend, have confirmed their absence.
According to Yonhap, the companies present at the meeting represent almost the entire AI value chain, from semiconductors, data centers, AI models, software, to robotics.
Huang is also scheduled to meet with gaming industry executives, AI and robotics start-ups, university researchers, and students, according to industry sources.
"Because Korea is the world's manufacturing center, we can apply robotics technology, physical AI technology that we create here to the industry," said Huang.
Physical AI refers to artificial intelligence that works in the real world through devices such as robots, machines, or autonomous vehicles.
Huang said Nvidia will partner with South Korean manufacturers in robotics and AI.
"Semiconductor manufacturing in the future will be increasingly driven by robotics and AI. Therefore, we have a great opportunity to partner with semiconductor companies here," he said.
On the same day, Huang visited a cyber cafe in Seoul and met with esports players, including game star Faker.
"This is the birthplace of esports," Huang said.
He assessed that Korean gamers have long been among the most competitive in the world and use many Nvidia graphics processing units or GPUs. GPUs are graphics processing chips that are important for games, AI, and heavy computing.
Nvidia's GeForce graphics cards are designed to produce high frame rates, i.e. smoother and faster image displays, as professional gamers need.
Huang is also expected to meet Krafton's CEO, Chang Byung-gyu, as well as a number of the company's top executives. The schedule has not yet been confirmed.
The two companies are expected to discuss potential collaboration on Nvidia's RTX Spark platform for premium Windows laptops and physical AI technology.
Earlier this year, Krafton established a robotics subsidiary called Ludo Robotics.
While in South Korea, Huang is also expected to meet with Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon to discuss AI cooperation, including GPU supplies.
The details of the time, location, and agenda of the meeting are still in the finalization stage.
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