Samsung hosts executive seminar with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman

Executive leadership meets OpenAI

Samsung recently hosted an invitation-only seminar at its Human Resources Development Institute in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The event featured OpenAI CEO Sam Altman as a guest speaker to discuss the next decade of corporate management. Over 50 key executives from diverse sectors, including finance, biotech, and electronics, attended the session.

The primary theme of the gathering was "The Next 10 Years Changed by AI: Corporate Choices." This meeting served as a high-level forum to explore how artificial intelligence will reshape organizational operations. The leaders focused on identifying new markets and understanding the specific business opportunities that emerge from these technologies.

According to The Korea Daily, the seminar was designed to enhance the AI literacy of the leadership team. By bringing together top decision-makers, Samsung aims to shape a unified strategy for corporate transformation. The goal is to ensure that those at the top of the company understand how to lead in an AI-centric environment.

Hands-on training for leaders

Before the formal seminar, the leadership team participated in a practical, hands-on training session for generative AI. This was the second major intensive program for the group, following an initial workshop held in June. The goal was to move beyond theory and let managers experience the tools directly.

During these sessions, executives practiced using AI to organize scattered business data into personalized "knowledge repositories." These repositories act as organized hubs of information that can be easily accessed and utilized. By building these, leaders can see how AI can streamline the way a company stores and retrieves its internal knowledge.

The training also focused on applying these tools to actual decision-making processes. Executives shared specific use cases across different affiliates to see how the technology works in different contexts. This practical approach helps management understand how to apply AI tools to their everyday operations and specific business problems.

Scaling AI across the workforce

Samsung is not limiting its AI education to the executive suite. Following the leadership sessions, the company rolled out educational programs for approximately 2,300 corporate officers. This is part of a much larger initiative to ensure the entire workforce is equipped to handle new technologies.

The company has set an ambitious timeline to complete AI training for all employees by February 2027. This massive undertaking reflects a commitment to full enterprise-wide AI transformation, often referred to as AX. Samsung wants to ensure that every worker, regardless of their role, understands the basics of AI.

To support this, various affiliates are establishing dedicated AI task forces. These groups are responsible for creating tailored AX strategies that fit the specific characteristics of each individual company. They also provide the necessary support for data operations and the application of various AI models.

Infrastructure and deep cooperation

The relationship between Samsung and OpenAI extends beyond simple training and education. The two companies have a history of close cooperation centered on AI infrastructure. In October of last year, Samsung Electronics signed a Letter of Intent with OpenAI to collaborate on global infrastructure development.

A major component of this cooperation involves Samsung supplying memory semiconductors for the "Stargate Project." This project is OpenAI's initiative to construct a major data center network. These semiconductors are essential components that allow large-scale AI models to process information efficiently.

Other branches of the Samsung group are also involved in the infrastructure side of the equation. Samsung SDS is cooperating on AI data center construction and enterprise services. Meanwhile, Samsung C&T and Samsung Heavy Industries are working together to develop offshore floating data centers.

The path to 2027

Samsung is currently reviewing the performance of its various affiliates to see how they are adopting these new tools. The company plans to solidify specific implementation tasks as it moves forward. The ultimate goal is to firmly establish a management framework that is centered entirely around AI capabilities.

By integrating AI competency evaluations into its hiring and promotion processes, Samsung is making AI skills a standard requirement. This ensures that the company continues to develop a workforce that can navigate a rapidly changing technological landscape. The focus is on making AI a seamless part of the corporate fabric.

As the company approaches its 2027 deadline, it will continue to expand the use of external generative AI services. The company is balancing the use of internal tools with external services to find the best results. This dual approach allows them to stay flexible while maintaining a high standard of data security and operational efficiency.