Microsoft is gearing up to host a gathering of top executives from South Korea’s leading technology firms next month to bolster its AI partnerships.
The summit, named the MS CEO Summit 2024, is scheduled for May 14, 2024, and will feature Microsoft’s founder Bill Gates and Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella. They will engage in private discussions with Kyung Kye-hyun of Samsung, Kwak Noh-jung of SK Hynix, Cho Joo-wan of LG Electronics, and Ryu Young-sang of SK Telecom.
Sources from The Korea Economic Daily suggest that Microsoft intends to explore collaborative ventures in AI technology across various industries. Talks with Samsung and SK Hynix are expected to focus on the joint development and supply of AI chips.
Samsung and SK Hynix are renowned as world leaders in memory chip manufacturing and could enhance Microsoft’s server capabilities with cutting-edge technologies like High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) AI chips and solid-state drives (SSDs).
Discussions with LG Electronics are likely to revolve around integrating AI technologies into home appliances, a move that could strengthen Microsoft’s competitive position against rivals such as Google and Meta. With SK Telecom, Microsoft is expected to delve deeper into cloud and 5G services.
These meetings come at a crucial time as the global tech landscape increasingly emphasizes AI development. By potentially integrating Microsoft’s AI services into products like Samsung’s smartphones and LG’s home appliances, Microsoft could significantly enhance its market presence.
Kyung from Samsung’s Device Solutions recently hinted that their new AI accelerators, Mach-1 and Mach-2, are set for mass production soon. These accelerators are designed to optimize the synergy between GPUs and HBM chips, promising a revolution in processing speeds. Earlier this month, the company unveiled the industry’s first LPDDR5X DRAM, aiming to enhance on-device AI.
SK Telecom, led by CEO Ryu, leads the Global Telco AI Alliance (GTAA). This consortium, which includes major global players like Deutsche Telekom and SingTel, aims to develop AI infrastructure and generative AI services for a customer base exceeding 1.3 billion globally.
Last year, SK Telecom invested $100 million in AI startup Anthropic to develop a large language model (LLM) specifically for telcos. This collaborative effort extends to the Telco AI Platform, an ongoing project initiated by the GTAA.
The MS CEO Summit 2024 presents an opportunity for enhanced AI cooperation and technological advancement, solidifying Microsoft’s position as a key player in the industry.
