OpenAI signs deal with Samsung, SK Hynix to source memory chips for Stargate

OpenAI has entered into a significant strategic alliance with Samsung and SK Hynix as part of its ambitious Stargate initiative. This partnership is designed to enhance the infrastructure necessary for AI development on a global scale, with a particular focus on South Korea. The collaboration aims to bolster the supply of advanced memory chips that are critical for next-generation AI technologies while also increasing data center capacity within Korea. OpenAI emphasized that this initiative positions Samsung and SK Hynix as pivotal players in the global AI infrastructure landscape, supporting South Korea's goal of becoming one of the top three AI nations worldwide. The letter of intent was formalized following a meeting between OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, Samsung's Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee, and SK's Chairman Chey Tae-won. As part of the agreement, Samsung and SK Hynix have committed to ramping up their production to 900,000 DRAM wafers each month, specifically for use in AI data centers and the Stargate project. This new production target represents more than double the current industry capacity for high-bandwidth memory chips. In addition, Samsung and SK plan to integrate ChatGPT Enterprise and API functionalities into their operations to enhance workflows and spur innovation. Altman expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with such formidable partners, highlighting Korea's unique industrial base that is vital for advancing AI technologies. The Stargate initiative, which was launched in January 2025 in collaboration with SoftBank and Oracle, aims to create a vast network of AI data centers across the United States, with a commitment of $500 billion in investments by 2029. The project’s name pays homage to the 1997 television series, and its scale has drawn parallels to the historic Manhattan Project. OpenAI has been in the spotlight recently for its ambitious plans, including a five-year contract worth $300 billion with Oracle to develop 4.5GW of data center capacity for the Stargate initiative. Furthermore, Nvidia announced a $100 billion investment in OpenAI to ensure the company has the computational power necessary for training its next generation of AI models.