SEOUL (ANN/THE KOREA HERALD) – Naver and Nvidia’s top executives gathered in the United States last week with a primary focus on securing “sovereign AI”, a term that encompasses a nation’s ability to independently develop and manufacture artificial intelligence models using its own infrastructure, data, workforce, and business network.
This concept has gained significant importance among tech firms as it enables AI models to integrate cultures, languages, and values unique to each region.
“Naver and Nvidia will closely collaborate to develop various AI models that respect the cultural values of each regional society,” a Naver official stated regarding the meeting.
Held at Nvidia’s headquarters in Santa Clara, California, the meeting saw the attendance of Naver founder Lee Hae-jin, CEO Choi Soo-yeon, and Nvidia founder Jensen Huang.
Naver leads Korea’s sovereign AI initiative with the launch of its hyperscale AI model, HyperClova X.
Leveraging its experience in developing Korean-based language models, the company aims to create similar models for regions such as the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
“Sovereign AI requires significant investment and technical expertise,” the Naver official explained. “Naver is the only company globally that possesses the foundational technology for constructing massive AI models based on languages other than English and Chinese, and has experience in building a cloud-based AI industry ecosystem using this technology.”
Naver has already partnered with Aramco Digital, a technology subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, to develop large-scale language models focusing on Arabic.
Discussions are also underway to provide AI solutions for the Philippines in collaboration with local internet service provider Converge ICT.
Given Nvidia’s market leadership in supplying high-capacity chips essential for AI services, a potential partnership with Nvidia could enable Naver to expand its presence in non-English-speaking markets.
“As global data barriers become more pronounced and the demand for sovereign AI increases, Naver and Nvidia, who share similar visions, could target non-English-speaking markets such as Asia and South America,” said an industry source who wished to remain anonymous.
