South Korea Aims to Secure 10,000 GPUs for National AI Push

South Korea plans to acquire 10,000 high-performance graphics processing units (GPUs) this year to bolster its artificial intelligence capabilities, Reuters reports. The move comes as global competition in AI intensifies, prompting countries to invest heavily in developing their national AI infrastructure.

Acting President Choi Sang-mok, in a statement, called the AI race "a full-scale rivalry between national innovation ecosystems." The government aims to secure the GPUs through public-private partnerships to expedite the launch of services at its national AI computing center.

The initiative comes amidst heightened geopolitical tensions surrounding AI technology. The US government recently announced new regulations aimed at controlling the flow of advanced AI chips and technology, including restrictions on GPU exports. This new rule categorizes countries into tiers, with South Korea among a select group of nations exempt from the most stringent restrictions.

Despite the US restrictions, the South Korean government has not yet finalized its GPU procurement strategy, including specific models and participating private companies. An official from the Ministry of Science and ICT told Reuters that these details will be finalized by September 2024.

Nvidia, a leading US chip designer, currently holds a dominant 80% share of the global GPU market. The company has witnessed soaring demand for its chips from customers involved in generative AI and accelerated computing.

Meanwhile, Microsoft-backed OpenAI is working to reduce its reliance on Nvidia by developing its own in-house AI silicon. The company, responsible for the popular ChatGPT chatbot, is finalizing the design for its first internal chip, which is expected to be fabricated by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.

The emergence of Chinese startup DeepSeek, utilizing AI models that prioritize computational efficiency, has also disrupted the AI landscape. This approach potentially narrows the gap between Chinese-made AI processors and their more powerful US counterparts.

The South Korean government's ambitious GPU procurement plan underscores the nation's commitment to staying at the forefront of the global AI race. The government's commitment to fostering public-private partnerships will be crucial in securing the necessary resources to achieve its goals.