Nvidia Co-Founder: Korean HBM is the Foundation of AI Revolution

Nvidia co-founder Chris Malachowsky told industry leaders that artificial intelligence is a fundamental computing platform transformation rather than a mere tool. Speaking at the 2026 Korea-U.S. Science and Technology Conference (UKC) in Orlando, Florida, Malachowsky emphasized that this shift will reorganize every major industry.

The conference, which ran from August 5 to 8 and drew over 1,000 science and technology professionals, served as the backdrop for Malachowsky's analysis of the AI hardware stack. He specifically identified South Korea's leadership in High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), led by giants Samsung and SK Hynix, as the essential foundation for global AI supercomputing. According to Malachowsky, the current era of artificial intelligence requires a "whole new kind of computer and a whole new kind of memory" to function.

A Platform Shift

Malachowsky compared the current AI trajectory to the introduction of electricity or the Internet. He argued that AI is not simply a series of chatbots but a platform shift that will fundamentally alter how businesses and governments operate. This perspective positions AI as a general-purpose technology that enables interdisciplinary breakthroughs in fields such as biology, medicine, and material science, moving innovation beyond centralized research labs.

Economic and Geopolitical Implications

Addressing fears of automation, Malachowsky asserted that AI will create jobs rather than destroy them. However, he warned of a shifting labor market, stating that "AI will not replace jobs, but those who use AI well will replace those who do not."

Beyond the workforce, the keynote highlighted the critical technical interdependence between U.S. AI design and Korean hardware manufacturing. To maintain this edge, Malachowsky advocated for the development of "Sovereign AI" infrastructure. He argued that nations must build their own domestic AI capabilities to ensure national leadership and security in the coming decade. He further suggested that open-source ecosystems are preferable to restrictive export controls to maintain transparency and safety.

The Path Forward

As the industry moves toward more specialized applications, Malachowsky urged leaders to act decisively. "The future is to make before it becomes clear," he told the audience, suggesting that the window for establishing infrastructure is narrow. While the technical synergy between Nvidia and Korean memory makers remains a cornerstone of the current boom, the focus is now shifting toward how this infrastructure is deployed at a national level to prevent a digital divide between AI-sovereign nations and those dependent on external providers.