Nvidia, SK Telecom and Rebellions to build AI computing system
The three companies will connect Nvidia chips with a domestic AI processor for SK Telecom's data centers, and Seoul pledged wider support for local chip developers.
Nvidia, SK Telecom and domestic AI chip startup Rebellions agreed on Monday to jointly build a heterogeneous computing system for artificial intelligence, South Korea's science ministry said.
Under a trilateral memorandum of understanding, the system will connect Nvidia's graphics processing units with neural processing units designed by Rebellions.
The ministry added that the system will be used to build SK Telecom's AI data centers and will be based on Nvidia's NVLink Fusion program.
The NVLink Fusion program lets hyperscalers and custom chip designers integrate their own AI processors directly into Nvidia's rack-scale infrastructure.
The memorandum was signed on the sidelines of AI Day Seoul, a tech event hosted by Nvidia that opened a two-day run in southern Seoul.
The ministry said the agreement will help expand the uses of domestically produced advanced semiconductors and give local companies a chance to verify their technologies in the global market.
The ministry pledged to support other local NPU developers so that similar collaboration can extend beyond Rebellions, with the aim of developing South Korea's advanced-chip ecosystem.
GPUs are widely used to train and run AI models, while NPUs are chips designed to handle AI workloads efficiently, often in devices and data centers.
Rebellions is one of a number of domestic startups seeking to supply AI chips as South Korea pushes to strengthen its semiconductor industry.