Naver has secured a massive $10 billion investment from Nvidia and Brookfield, a major alternative asset management firm. This funding aims to establish an AI factory with a capacity of up to 1 gigawatt (GW) and to expand a 'Sovereign AI' ecosystem that is not tied to specific countries or companies.
On July 24, during the AI Summit held at The Midway in San Francisco, Naver founder and board chairman Lee Hae-jin officially announced this development in the presence of President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Lee stated, "Nvidia and Brookfield have invested a significant amount of $10 billion in us. This will serve as a turning point for Naver to make a substantial change and leap forward."
He projected that this investment would be a pivotal moment for expanding AI infrastructure on a global scale, emphasizing the opportunity to rapidly enhance Naver's data center operations through the global brands and networks of the two companies.
The investment will primarily fund Naver's ongoing large-scale AI factory project. Brookfield, which has over 120 years of history and manages more than $1 trillion in assets, previously met with Lee and Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon at its headquarters in Toronto to discuss funding strategies in detail.
The AI factory will integrate GPU servers, AI models, and cloud technologies on a physical foundation of large-scale power and cooling facilities, providing robust computational capabilities.
Last month, Naver and Nvidia agreed to jointly build a global AI factory based on Nvidia's AI factory optimization platform, the 'DSX Architecture.' The two companies plan to initially operate a 55-megawatt (MW) AI factory at the Sejong data center, 'Gak Sejong,' in the first half of 2027, with plans to expand to 200 MW by 2028 and ultimately reach 1 GW in the long term.
On this day, Lee also presented a strong vision for Naver's 'Sovereign AI' alongside the infrastructure expansion.
He asserted, "The internet world that Naver envisions is not one dominated by specific countries or companies. To maintain the diversity of the world, each country, region, and company must be able to create and operate its own AI." He added, "With this investment, Naver will continue its research and investment in technology, striving to create an environment where diverse AI ecosystems coexist in collaboration with companies around the world that share the same vision."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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