Chey Tae-won, chairman of the SK Group, emphasized the critical trilateral partnership among SK hynix Inc., Nvidia Corp., and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) in strengthening the global supply chain of the AI chip industry during his keynote address at the AI Summit 2024 in Seoul on Monday. “AI will bring about massive changes in our lives and society. We must shape these changes to benefit us,” Chey articulated, referencing the significant collaboration between Microsoft and OpenAI that has catalyzed the AI era with the introduction of ChatGPT. He further stated, “To create a future led by AI, we will face challenges that require collective problem-solving. At this point, we need broad participation and cooperation.” Chey underscored the role of SK hynix, a key player in the production of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, which are essential for AI computing. The ongoing collaboration with Nvidia is crucial, as their AI accelerators form the backbone of data centers and AI computing infrastructure. SK hynix recently commenced mass production of advanced 12-layer HBM3E chips after starting the supply of fifth-generation HBM3E chips to Nvidia in March. Chey revealed that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang requested an expedited supply schedule for the upcoming HBM4 chips during a recent meeting, highlighting the urgency and demand for these advanced components. The chairman also emphasized the importance of collaboration with TSMC, the leading semiconductor contract manufacturing company. Chey pointed out that designing high-performing chips is futile without the capability to manufacture them. The strategic alliance among SK hynix, Nvidia, and TSMC aims to address the AI chip supply shortage effectively. During the summit, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and TSMC CEO C.C. Wei delivered video messages, while Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang engaged in an online conversation with Professor David Patterson from UC Berkeley.
