NVIDIA Chooses South Korea for Next-Gen AI Chip Priority

In a significant boost to South Korea's tech ambitions, NVIDIA has pledged to prioritize shipments of its upcoming Vera Rubin graphics processors to the Asian nation. The commitment came during meetings between South Korean officials and NVIDIA executives at CES 2026 in Las Vegas.

Securing Technological Advantage

Ryu Je-myung, Second Deputy Minister of South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT, revealed the agreement after touring NVIDIA's U.S. headquarters. "Having early access to these advanced processors could make all the difference," Ryu explained. "In the race for AI supremacy, hardware capabilities often determine who leads and who follows."

The deal includes both Blackwell GB300 GPUs arriving ahead of schedule and preferential access to Vera Rubin chips expected in 2027. Industry analysts suggest this could accelerate South Korea's AI development by at least six months compared to competitors.

Building AI Factories

The GPU commitment forms part of a larger collaboration between NVIDIA and South Korean partners. Together with government support, they plan to establish massive "AI factories" powered by up to 260,000 NVIDIA processors. These facilities aim to become regional hubs for machine learning development and deployment.

"We're not just buying chips," Ryu emphasized during his CES presentation. "We're building an entire ecosystem where researchers and companies can push AI boundaries without hardware limitations."

Broader Tech Implications

The minister connected these developments with other cutting-edge technologies demonstrated at CES. After experiencing autonomous vehicle prototypes firsthand, Ryu stressed how foundational AI capabilities influence multiple sectors:

• Autonomous driving systems requiring real-time decision making
• Robotics needing adaptive learning capabilities
• Digital healthcare platforms analyzing vast medical datasets
• Smart home devices evolving through usage patterns

"Without competitive AI infrastructure," Ryu warned, "entire product categories risk becoming obsolete within years."

The government plans increased investments in AI research and workforce development alongside the hardware acquisitions.

Key Points:

• Priority Access: South Korea will receive first shipments of NVIDIA's Vera Rubin GPUs launching in 2027
• Massive Scale: Up to 260,000 GPUs planned for delivery through government-industry partnerships
• Strategic Timing: Early Blackwell GB300 deliveries could accelerate Korean AI projects
• Broader Impact: Advanced chips seen as essential for maintaining competitiveness across multiple tech sectors