OpenAI Strengthens Ties with Asian Tech Giants OpenAI has announced a strategic partnership with South Korean chat app operator Kakao, marking its second major alliance with a prominent Asian company in a single week. This collaboration aims to integrate OpenAI’s cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology into Kakao’s diverse range of services.
The announcement came during OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s high-profile tour across Asia. Earlier in the week, he revealed a partnership with Japan’s SoftBank Group, and sources indicate he is set to visit India next, where he is hoping to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Kakao’s Push into AI-Powered Services Kakao, which dominates the South Korean messaging market with KakaoTalk holding a staggering 97% domestic market share, has been actively exploring AI as a key driver of future growth. Beyond messaging, the company has expanded into e-commerce, digital payments, and gaming. Despite its ambitions, analysts believe Kakao has trailed behind local competitor Naver in the AI race.
“We are particularly interested in AI and messaging,” Altman stated at a press conference alongside Kakao CEO Chung Shina in Seoul. This partnership will allow Kakao to leverage OpenAI’s technology to enhance its AI capabilities across multiple services.
South Korea’s Growing Role in AI Infrastructure During his visit, Altman highlighted the significant role South Korean companies will play in the Stargate data center project—a joint initiative between OpenAI and Oracle to expand AI infrastructure in the United States. Although he refrained from providing specific details, Altman acknowledged the contributions of South Korean firms to the initiative.
On the same day, Altman met with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and was also scheduled to meet with Samsung Chairman Jay Y. Lee and SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son in Seoul. According to reports from FRONTPAGE, discussions at these meetings centered around AI collaborations and potential investments.
Masayoshi Son confirmed that he had talks with Samsung about updates on the Stargate project and “potential cooperation” in AI. When asked whether he would seek Samsung’s investment, he responded, “Nothing specific, but we are starting cooperation talks.”
South Korea’s leading semiconductor manufacturers, SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics, are key players in the AI space, producing high-bandwidth memory chips critical for AI processors. However, both Samsung and SoftBank declined to comment on the specifics of their discussions.
AI Investment on a Global Scale The global AI sector has seen increasing private-sector investment, with former U.S. President Donald Trump recently announcing up to $500 billion in funding for AI infrastructure. The rapid growth of AI technology has fueled competition among global tech giants to secure investments and partnerships.
When questioned about OpenAI’s potential involvement in South Korea’s national AI computing center project, Altman confirmed that his company is “actively considering” participating. The South Korean government previously announced plans to establish a national AI computing center, which could align with OpenAI’s Stargate data center initiative.
“There is so much happening in Korea that will be critical for this development,” Altman stated. He emphasized that South Korea’s expertise in energy, semiconductors, and internet technology makes it a valuable market for OpenAI. Public and private investments in South Korean AI initiatives are expected to reach approximately 2 trillion won ($1.4 billion).
Market Response to the Announcement Following the announcement of OpenAI’s collaboration with Kakao, the South Korean company’s stock showed positive movement. Kakao shares rose by 0.2% on Tuesday, building on a 9% surge the previous day. This upward trend signals investor confidence in Kakao’s AI-driven expansion strategy.
As OpenAI continues its global AI push, its partnerships with Kakao and SoftBank indicate a strong commitment to the Asian market. With discussions underway in India and potential collaborations with leading South Korean firms, OpenAI is positioning itself at the forefront of AI development in the region.
