U.S. chipmaking giant Nvidia has announced a major partnership with the South Korean government and leading companies including Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Hyundai Motor to accelerate the country’s artificial intelligence (AI) development and infrastructure.

The collaboration, unveiled Friday after President Lee Jae Myung met with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, includes supplying about 260,000 graphics processing units (GPUs) to bolster AI computing and manufacturing capabilities. Of these, 50,000 GPUs will go toward a government-backed national AI cloud center, while Samsung and SK Hynix will each receive a similar number to integrate AI into semiconductor manufacturing. Hyundai will use Nvidia’s Blackwell GPUs to advance work on autonomous driving, robotics, and smart factories.

At a press conference, Huang praised South Korea’s strengths in technology, software, and manufacturing, saying that combining these with AI would put the country at the forefront of “the future of robotics.”

Huang’s visit comes during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, where South Korea is showcasing its AI ambitions. Nvidia has become a central player in global AI advancement, powering much of the industry’s infrastructure.

The company also figured prominently in talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where they discussed easing chip export restrictions. Huang said he hopes Nvidia will eventually be allowed to sell its next-generation Blackwell chips to China but acknowledged the final decision rests with Trump.

Nvidia recently became the world’s first $5 trillion company, highlighting the immense impact of the AI boom — though global financial leaders have warned of a possible market bubble.

Huang’s South Korean visit drew significant public attention, with crowds gathering as he shared fried chicken and beer with Samsung’s Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai’s Euisun Chung, underscoring his growing celebrity status in the tech world.