SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won Deepens AI Partnerships with Tech Giants
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won is actively strengthening SK hynix’s position within the global artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem through strategic partnerships with leading technology companies. Recent engagements with CEOs of Nvidia, Microsoft, Google, and Meta signal a shift for SK Group from a memory supplier to a core architect in the AI industry.
First Appearance at NVIDIA GTC 2026
Chey Tae-won attended NVIDIA’s GPU Technology Conference (GTC 2026) in San Jose, California, on March 16, 2026, marking his first appearance at the event. This visit underscored SK hynix’s AI infrastructure and memory capabilities, as well as its global partnerships, according to SK hynix. He attended a keynote session led by NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, which covered advancements in GPU-based computing, AI factories, open-source AI models, agentic systems, and physical AI.
Huang’s keynote also detailed the “AI stack”—encompassing energy, chips, infrastructure, models, and applications—and introduced the “Vera Rubin” AI accelerator, slated for mass production in 2026, and its next-generation successor, “Feynman.” Chey’s presence at GTC 2026 highlights his commitment to broadening collaboration centered around High Bandwidth Memory (HBM).
Meetings with Tech Leaders in Silicon Valley
Prior to GTC 2026, Chey Tae-won engaged in a series of meetings with key figures in Silicon Valley, including Jensen Huang (Nvidia), Satya Nadella (Microsoft), Sundar Pichai (Google), and Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), as reported by KMJournal. These discussions extended beyond memory supply contracts, focusing on strategic alignment across AI semiconductors, data centers, cloud infrastructure, and next-generation chip design.
A notable meeting with Huang took place on February 5, 2026, at a Korean-style pub, where the two executives discussed global AI demand and semiconductor strategy, particularly concerning HBM, a critical component for Nvidia’s AI GPUs. KMJournal reports that Chey reviewed SK hynix’s strategy in advance of the meeting, emphasizing the importance of the Nvidia relationship.
Reinforcing the SK hynix-NVIDIA Partnership
The collaboration between SK hynix and NVIDIA dates back to early efforts in developing and supplying high-performance HBM for GPU computing. Chey and Huang reunited during GTC 2026, following a previous meeting at the APEC CEO Summit 2025, where a new partnership was announced to create an AI cloud for manufacturing in South Korea, as noted by SK. This latest meeting is seen as reinforcing and advancing that partnership, particularly regarding SK hynix’s sixth-generation HBM4.
Support Following Injury
Recently, Chey Tae-won shared on Instagram photos of messages of support from tech CEOs written on a cast he wore due to a wrist injury sustained while playing tennis. Messages were left by Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), Jensen Huang (Nvidia), Sundar Pichai (Google), and Masayoshi Son (SoftBank), expressing wishes for a speedy recovery, according to iNews24.
Strategic Focus on AI Semiconductors
These engagements demonstrate SK Group’s strategic shift towards becoming a core architect of the global AI ecosystem, moving beyond its traditional role as a memory supplier. The company is actively working to maintain cooperative relationships with customers amid surging demand for HBM, as highlighted by iNews24.
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