Samsung Electronics Boosts AI Semiconductor Competitiveness, Innovates Work Productivity

Samsung Electronics is accelerating its high-bandwidth memory (HBM) technology development, a core AI semiconductor, to strengthen its competitive edge. Concurrently, the company is expanding the use of external AI services to enhance company-wide work efficiency. Samsung Electronics officially allowed all employees in its DX division to use external generative AI services such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude starting in June. This follows a two-month pilot test involving 2,500 employees, which included mandatory security training. By managing security risks while accelerating its AI Transformation (AX) strategy, the company aims to boost overall business efficiency in areas like market trend analysis, multilingual communication, and customer data analysis. Samsung Electronics is also pursuing a long-term project to convert all global production bases into AI-driven smart factories by 2030, preparing to integrate humanoid manufacturing robots alongside operational, logistics, and assembly robots to enhance manufacturing competitiveness and proactively respond to future industrial changes.

Rival SK Hynix is intensifying the technology competition in the AI semiconductor market by introducing its 'iHBM' technology, which features integrated cooling within the HBM. SK Hynix's new technology simultaneously improves performance and power efficiency, key competitive factors for AI semiconductors.

The Korea Development Institute (KDI) projects South Korea's real GDP growth rate to be 2.5% this year, with exports reaching $924.4 billion. Favorable conditions in the AI and semiconductor industries have had a greater impact on growth than US-led tariff shocks, leading to a record-high quarterly trade surplus. Despite the KOSPI surpassing 8,000 points and record quarterly current account surpluses, the won-dollar exchange rate has remained above 1,500 won for seven consecutive trading days. This is attributed to structural causes such as a surge in overseas investment by domestic economic entities and the departure of foreign investors from the bond market. Fund inflows into the bond market, which is larger than the stock market, have a more significant impact on the won's value.

Exports in sectors other than semiconductors and ICT show a distinct slump. Non-semiconductor industries, including automobiles, refining, steel, and petrochemicals, are facing difficulties due to tariffs, intensified competition from China, and oversupply.

The government plans to announce supplementary measures for continued employment for the elderly who wish to work beyond the statutory retirement age of 60 by the end of June. Reflecting the reality that 24.5% of current jobholders are aged 60 and above, the government is considering various continued employment policies, such as re-employment, contract work, and part-time employment, to prepare for an aging society and maximize the utilization of skilled labor.

Kwon Nam-hoon, President of the KDI, stated that a significant portion of the current positive indicators is due to price effects, and stressed the need to continue future-oriented investments rather than resting on these achievements.