Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang starts a key trip to South Korea — here's what he might be up to

Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, is embarking on a significant trip to South Korea, a crucial market for the tech giant. His visit aligns with a pivotal meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, highlighting the intersection of business and global politics. Huang's itinerary includes discussions with top executives from South Korean conglomerates, notably Samsung and SK Group. A key focus of Huang's meetings will be with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, as SK Hynix, a major supplier for Nvidia, produces high-bandwidth memory (HBM) essential for the company's advanced AI systems. This engagement could pave the way for future collaborations on HBM development, particularly as Samsung also competes in this space, albeit with products not yet certified by Nvidia. Huang's global tour this year has seen Nvidia unveil various infrastructure agreements, showcasing its commitment to supplying graphics processing units for data centers worldwide. At a recent developer conference in Washington, Huang indicated ongoing partnerships with Samsung and Hyundai, emphasizing investments in what he refers to as "AI factories," or data centers, with SK Telecom, another subsidiary of SK Group, also expanding its data center capabilities in South Korea. As Huang navigates these business discussions, the geopolitical backdrop adds a layer of complexity. Trump has publicly praised Huang, indicating the potential for direct conversations between the two. Observers are keen to see how Nvidia's future in China unfolds, particularly after the lifting of export restrictions on downgraded AI chips earlier this year. Despite this, reports suggest that Chinese companies are being encouraged to seek domestic alternatives to Nvidia’s offerings. The stakes are high, as Nvidia's advanced Blackwell AI processors remain restricted from export to China. With Trump indicating that discussions around these chips could occur during his meeting with Xi, Huang's visit to South Korea might not only shape Nvidia's strategic direction but also serve as a bargaining chip in U.S.-China relations. The outcome of these talks could significantly impact Nvidia's standing in the lucrative Chinese market, which has already seen the company face substantial losses due to previous trade limitations.