BEREA, Ky. — SK hynix, one of Nvidia’s key suppliers for AI memory, says it is considering establishing a U.S.-based unit focused on artificial intelligence investment, following a report that the new entity would manage about 10 trillion won (roughly $6.92 billion) in AI-related overseas assets held by SK Group affiliates. The reported portfolio includes stakes in TerraPower, the U.S. nuclear-energy company. SK hynix said in a regulatory filing it is reviewing “various measures,” including creating a subsidiary, but emphasized no final decision has been made.
🧠 Why This Matters: The AI Supply Chain Is Reorganizing Around the U.S.
This isn’t just corporate housekeeping. It’s another signal that the AI buildout is pulling more decision-making and infrastructure toward America.
1️⃣ Memory Is a Choke Point for AI.
AI accelerators don’t run on GPUs alone—high-bandwidth memory (HBM) is a core ingredient, and SK hynix has been a major player in the race to supply next-generation HBM used in advanced AI systems. Recent industry reporting continues to describe SK hynix as winning a significant share of next-gen HBM orders tied to Nvidia’s future platforms.
2️⃣ Energy Is Becoming Part of the Chip Story.
The TerraPower detail matters because AI growth is now colliding with a blunt constraint: power. Data centers and chip manufacturing both demand massive, reliable electricity—so investments that touch next-gen energy (including nuclear) are increasingly showing up alongside semiconductor strategy.
3️⃣ The U.S. Is Becoming the “Control Plane.”
A U.S.-based investment unit can mean faster coordination with major customers, partners, capital markets, and policy incentives—especially as the AI ecosystem becomes more geographically concentrated and competitive.
👀 What to Watch Next
- Confirmation of the unit (or a formal “no”) from SK hynix
- Which SK affiliates’ assets move under it and whether TerraPower remains a headline holding
- Competitor moves—Samsung is also pushing hard on next-gen HBM timelines amid the AI memory boom
About the Author
Chad Hembree is a certified network engineer with 30 years of experience in IT and networking. He hosted the nationally syndicated radio show Tech Talk with Chad Hembree throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s, and previously served as CEO of DataStar. Today, he’s based in Berea as the Executive Director of The Spotlight Playhouse—proof that some careers don’t pivot, they evolve.