SK hynix plans to establish a U.S.-based artificial intelligence solutions company tentatively named “AI Company,” while significantly restructuring its local NAND business. The company will reposition its subsidiary Solidigm as a holding entity for AI solutions and create a new “AI NAND solutions” operating unit under Solidigm to run NAND operations jointly with SK hynix.
SK hynix said in a statement posted to its newsroom on Tuesday that it is pursuing a plan to reorganize Solidigm — which changed its name in February — as the central entity of the AI Co. structure. Under Solidigm, SK hynix would set up a new corporation responsible for NAND and SSD products for AI data centers. The goal is to combine SK hynix’s NAND technology with Solidigm’s enterprise SSD capabilities under one organization to strengthen storage solutions for AI data centers.
The company said the restructuring is intended to extend its technology leadership in AI memory, including high-bandwidth memory, into storage and system solutions, moving beyond being a memory manufacturer to become a key partner in the AI data center ecosystem. SK hynix said it also plans strategic investments and partnerships with companies with AI capabilities to grow AI Co. into a solutions provider spanning the full range of data center needs.
SK hynix pointed to growing investment by global big tech companies in data centers and changes in semiconductor and system architectures to secure an edge in AI. It said the importance of high-performance SSDs and storage solutions is rising alongside memory performance, as large volumes of data must be stored and processed reliably. SK hynix said it sees an opportunity to expand its influence across AI infrastructure by combining its experience leading the HBM market with NAND and enterprise SSD technology.
The company said it is also considering ways to expand investment and collaboration with U.S. AI innovators through AI Co. and connect those efforts to AI synergies across the SK Group. It said it aims to develop AI Co. into a global hub for AI cooperation aligned with the group’s AI- and semiconductor-focused investment strategy.
SK hynix said it expects the global network and technology collaboration built through AI Co. to help strengthen the competitiveness of South Korea’s AI and semiconductor industries as global competition intensifies.
SK hynix said it plans to contribute up to US$10 billion to AI Co. through capital calls. The funds are intended for mid- to long-term investment covering AI memory, AI storage and broader data center solutions.
“Establishing AI Co. is a strategic move to secure diverse opportunities in the AI data center ecosystem ahead of the next AI era,” the company said. “We will work closely with key partners in the United States to create the value customers need ahead of demand.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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