Stargate
It is understandable that OpenAI, known for its ChatGPT language model, requires ever greater computing power and, as a result, more specialized chips capable of processing enormous volumes of data. Under the U.S.-based Stargate project, a partnership with Samsung and SK Hynix has been formed, which should help OpenAI solve two crucial problems: the shortage of memory chips and the lack of data center capacity in South Korea. The official announcement followed a meeting between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Seoul. The project also involves the Korean Ministry of Science and ICT, SK Telecom, and Samsung subsidiaries.
HBM4
From a technical perspective, the greatest attention is focused on the latest generation of High Bandwidth Memory chips (HBM4). These will form the core of Nvidia’s future graphics processors, specifically, the new Rubin architecture, which is expected to power state-of-the-art data centers and AI applications by the end of 2026. In this context, SK Hynix announced that it is already fully prepared for mass production of HBM4 – a major development, as the company is currently Nvidia’s primary supplier of this type of memory. Meanwhile, Samsung, once the undisputed market leader, is still in the process of certifying its chips with Nvidia. The battle for the position of the main supplier of “fuel” for the AI revolution is thus intensifying, while at the same time offering investors opportunities for portfolio diversification. This aligns with a July analysis by Counterpoint Research, which revealed that SK Hynix’s revenue in the second quarter of 2025 rose by 31 percent compared to the first quarter, closing the gap with Samsung.*
Samsung and Its Challenges
Unfortunately, Samsung is currently going through a difficult period. By the end of the second quarter of 2025, its chip division recorded a nearly 94 percent year-over-year decline in profit.* CFO Soon-cheol Park assured investors that he expects recovery in the second half of the year, but the situation is clear – if Samsung wants to avoid ceding its leading position to rival SK Hynix, it will have to adapt quickly.
Outlook
OpenAI’s latest partnership with Samsung and SK Hynix demonstrates that in the near future, HBM4 memory chips are likely to be the key to success in the field of AI. The shares of both manufacturers have already reacted to the announcement – SK Hynix reached a new all-time high, while its main competitor is once again testing price levels from 2021.* In both cases, this ultimately reflects long-term potential that investors may wish to be a part of.
* Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
