Jensen Huang’s investment in OpenAI

The Nvidia-OpenAI alliance could redefine the balance of power in AI—and determine how computing’s future unfolds.

Baek Woo-jin The author is an economic columnist and the CEO of Geuljaengi Inc.

“Toward the future of computing and humanity.”

That was the message Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, wrote in marker on a DGX-1 supercomputer in 2016 before delivering the machine to OpenAI. Weighing about 61 kilograms (134 pounds), the box-shaped computer was one of Nvidia’s most powerful systems for training AI at the time. It symbolized Huang’s early commitment to the fledgling research lab.

From the beginning, Huang’s ambition has been to place Nvidia at the center of computing’s future. He has described the rise of AI as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and positioned his company’s graphics processing units as the engines of machine intelligence. Building on the DGX-1, Nvidia rose to dominate the global information technology sector, becoming the leading supplier of chips that power advanced AI systems.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang gestures before a business roundtable attended by U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers near Aylesbury, Britain, on Sept. 18. [AP/YONHAP]

Huang’s management style is often described as relentless, pushing technology and operations to exceed prior limits. That approach was evident in Nvidia’s latest move with OpenAI. Rather than remaining content with supplying chips, Huang has sought a foothold inside the service infrastructure itself by backing OpenAI as a strategic partner.

This month, Nvidia and OpenAI announced a plan in which Nvidia would invest $100 billion in OpenAI in exchange for an equity stake. OpenAI, in turn, intends to use the funds to build a 10-gigawatt-scale data center. While details remain under negotiation, analysts note that the arrangement appears favorable for Nvidia: Much of the investment will likely flow back into its own revenues, since OpenAI’s data centers depend on Nvidia graphics processing units.

Industry observers suggest OpenAI is seeking to widen the gap with rival services by securing long-term access to Nvidia’s computing power. For Nvidia, the investment represents not just sales but a deeper role in shaping how AI platforms operate.

Some compare the move to the personal computer era, when Intel invested in Microsoft. Others argue this partnership could prove even more consequential, given the scale of AI adoption and the concentration of resources needed to support it.

As both companies move ahead, the industry will be watching closely. The Nvidia-OpenAI alliance could redefine the balance of power in AI—and determine how computing’s future unfolds.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.