OpenAI and Samsung have formalized a partnership through a letter of intent, focusing on the development of floating data centers and advanced power infrastructure. This collaboration, announced at a ceremony in Seoul, aims to bolster OpenAI’s capabilities as it seeks to establish greater independence from traditional hyperscalers.
Project Stargate is a key initiative within this partnership, with Samsung Electronics set to serve as a strategic memory supplier. OpenAI estimates its memory needs could soar to 900,000 DRAM wafers per month. Samsung will provide high-performance and energy-efficient memory solutions to meet this demand. Additionally, Samsung SDS will work alongside OpenAI to design, develop, and operate AI data centers, while also offering enterprise AI services.
The agreement extends beyond data management. Samsung Heavy Industries and Samsung C&T are collaborating with OpenAI to explore the potential of floating data centers. This innovative approach aims to tackle land scarcity, reduce cooling costs, and lower carbon emissions. The companies stated, “Floating data centers can address land scarcity, lower cooling costs and reduce carbon emissions.”
While floating data centers are still a rare concept, interest is steadily increasing. Notable projects include the ongoing Stockton initiative in California, which has been operational since 2021, as well as plans by Japanese firms and Yokohama city for a solar- and battery-powered design. In June 2025, a nuclear-powered floating data center concept was proposed by the American Bureau of Shipping and Herbert Engineering.
This partnership arrives shortly after reports of $100 billion investment from Nvidia into OpenAI, aimed at enhancing OpenAI’s infrastructure with Nvidia’s chips. The move underscores OpenAI’s intent to decrease its reliance on major partners like Microsoft, especially as competitors such as Meta and Google aggressively expand their own infrastructure.
As the AI landscape continues to evolve, this partnership between OpenAI and Samsung signifies a strategic shift toward establishing a robust operational framework capable of supporting large-scale AI initiatives. The collaboration is set to not only enhance OpenAI’s infrastructure but also pave the way for innovative solutions in the rapidly growing field of artificial intelligence.
