[News] OpenAI CEO Reportedly Meets Foxconn, TSMC, Heads to Korea to Explore Samsung, SK hynix Ties

According to Economic Daily News, sources say OpenAI CEO Sam Altman visited Taiwan on the 30th, reportedly discussing cooperation details of the U.S. AI project “Stargate” with Foxconn, the project’s largest AI server supplier. He reportedly also met with TSMC to discuss key issues such as wafer production for OpenAI’s own AI chips.

The report notes that the Stargate project plans to build five new data centers in the U.S., three of which will be jointly constructed with Oracle. Since Foxconn is the largest supplier of Oracle’s AI servers, Altman’s cooperation with Foxconn is seen as critical to ensuring sufficient AI server capacity.

As for the other two data centers, OpenAI will partner with SoftBank to develop them in Lordstown, Ohio, and Milam, Texas, with plans to complete construction within 18 months. The report adds that since Foxconn is also an important partner in SoftBank’s data center efforts, noting that SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son previously made a secret visit to Taiwan to meet with Foxconn Chairman Young Liu.

OpenAI Reportedly Taps TSMC for In-House AI Chip Production

Apart from discussing AI server production for the Stargate project with Foxconn, Altman’s visit reportedly also involved OpenAI’s plan to build its own chips with TSMC. According to TechNews, OpenAI is actively developing in-house AI chips and established an AI ASIC design team last year. The company has reportedly been working with Broadcom to design custom chips, with mass production planned for 2026 using TSMC’s 3nm process and CoWoS packaging with HBM.

Altman to Meet South Korean President, Reportedly Explores Collaborations with SK hynix and Samsung

Meanwhile, following his visit to Taiwan, Altman is scheduled to meet South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday at 6 p.m. (0900 GMT) at the presidential office in central Seoul, according to Reuters. In addition, as noted by KBS, on October 1, Altman met with SK Group Chairman Choi Tae-won, with discussions reportedly center on collaboration in AI semiconductors and generative AI services. Following that meeting, Altman is scheduled to visit Samsung Electronics’ Seocho office in Seoul to meet Chairman Lee Jae-yong.

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