OpenAI's Sam Altman Makes Strategic Moves in Asia: Secret TSMC Meeting and South Korean Data Center Deals

Reviewed byNidhi Govil

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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's recent trip to Asia involves crucial meetings with TSMC and Foxconn in Taiwan, followed by data center deals in South Korea. These moves are part of OpenAI's ambitious plans for AI infrastructure expansion and custom chip development.

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OpenAI's Strategic Moves in Asia

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been making significant moves in Asia, with a series of high-profile meetings and deals that could shape the future of AI infrastructure and chip development. The AI pioneer's recent activities include a reported secret visit to Taiwan and confirmed meetings in South Korea, all aimed at bolstering OpenAI's technological capabilities and global presence .

Secret Meetings in Taiwan

According to reports, Altman made an unannounced trip to Taiwan, where he held crucial meetings with representatives from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and Foxconn . These discussions reportedly centered around potential collaborations in chip design, manufacturing, and AI server infrastructure development . The meetings are seen as critical for OpenAI's ambitious plans, including the Stargate initiative, which aims to construct hundreds of billions of dollars worth of data centers and "AI factories" in the coming years .

South Korean Data Center Deals

Following his Taiwan visit, Altman's presence in the region was confirmed when he met with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung . During this visit, OpenAI secured non-binding agreements to construct two 20-megawatt data centers in South Korea . One center is planned for Phang in partnership with Samsung, while another is set to be built in the South Jeolla province in collaboration with SK Hynix .

Custom AI Chip Development

A key focus of Altman's meetings, particularly with TSMC, appears to be OpenAI's ambitions to develop its own AI chips . The company reportedly formed an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) design team in 2024 and is working towards creating custom AI chips for inference tasks . These chips are expected to be manufactured using TSMC's advanced 3nm process, with mass production potentially beginning in Q3 2026 .

Reducing Dependence on Nvidia

OpenAI's push for custom chip development is partly driven by a desire to reduce its reliance on Nvidia GPUs, which are currently essential for its operations . By developing its own ASICs, OpenAI aims to create more efficient and tailored solutions for its AI infrastructure needs .

Implications for Global AI Infrastructure

These strategic moves by OpenAI underscore the company's commitment to expanding its global AI infrastructure and technological capabilities. The partnerships and deals being forged in Asia are likely to play a crucial role in OpenAI's future developments, potentially reshaping the landscape of AI computing and infrastructure on a global scale .

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