SKT Partners with Arm and Rebellions to Develop GPU-Alternative AI Server Solution

*Editor's Note: 'AI PRISM' (Personalized Report & Insight Summarizing Media) is an 'AI-based customized news recommendation and summary service' developed with support from the Korea Press Foundation. It selects and provides six customized news items for each reader type.

1. SKT Partners with UK's Arm and Rebellions for Next-Generation AI Server Solution Development

- Key Summary: SK Telecom has signed a strategic partnership with UK-based Arm and Korean AI semiconductor startup Rebellions to jointly develop CPU-NPU combined AI inference optimization solutions. The approach involves mounting Arm's AGI CPU—the company's first direct production in its 35-year history—and Rebellions' Rebel Card, scheduled for release in Q3, in a single server. The structure improves power efficiency compared to GPUs and reduces operating costs. After verifying performance and stability at its own AI data centers, the company plans to offer a full package combining its proprietary foundation model 'A.X K1.' This is evaluated as a strategic move reflecting the shift in the AI industry's focus from 'training' to 'inference.'

2. Iran Said It Would Open Hormuz, But Only 22 of 2,000 Ships Passed...Complete Closure Bill Even Introduced

- Key Summary: Despite the two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement, only 22 vessels passed through the Hormuz Strait over three days, while approximately 2,000 ships remain stranded. Iran has strengthened control over the strait while striking Saudi Petroline, reducing transportable capacity by 700,000 barrels and cutting Saudi daily production capacity by approximately 600,000 barrels. Energy supply concerns are deepening as Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei declared he would "elevate strait control to a new level" and a complete closure bill was introduced. Brent crude plunged more than 13% on the 8th due to ceasefire possibilities before turning to a 1% rise on the 9th, showing extreme volatility.

3. Following OpenAI, Anthropic Also "Developing Own Chips"...Breaking Nvidia's Dominance

- Key Summary: According to Reuters, Anthropic is considering developing its own chips, and OpenAI began collaborating with Broadcom on customized chip development in October last year. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy stated in a shareholder letter that estimated annual revenue from proprietary AI chips has exceeded $20 billion, even suggesting the possibility of mass sales to third parties. However, with entry barriers high—including $500 million in personnel and manufacturing process costs for advanced AI chip design—big tech companies are pursuing strategies that combine in-house chip development with data center expansion. Alliances are becoming active, with Meta signing a $35.2 billion contract with CoreWeave and Google concluding a multi-year CPU supply contract with Intel.

4. GS (078930) Chairman Huh Tae-soo: "Korea Must Become a Country That Uses AI Well Through Public-Private Cooperation to Leap Forward"

- Key Summary: GS Chairman and AI Innovation Committee Chair Huh Tae-soo emphasized at the Korea Enterprises Federation AI Innovation Committee's third meeting that "the success of global AI competition will be determined by the speed of field deployment as much as technological superiority." He diagnosed that AI transformation (AX) is directly linked to survival in industries where operational efficiency determines performance, such as oil refining, petrochemicals, and retail. Chairman Huh stated, "If large companies share their AI knowledge and models with SMEs, we can grow together," emphasizing the need to secure AI competitiveness across the entire ecosystem. Song Sang-hoon, Director of the National AI Strategy Committee Support Group, also presented AX as a solution to overcome the declining working-age population and announced policy implementation under the 'Korea AI Action Plan.'