According to reports, SK announced that it will secure 560 billion won (about 56 billion U.S. dollars) of free cash flow by 2026, focusing on investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and chip technology.
As one of Korea's leading conglomerates, SK Group's businesses cover a wide range of sectors, including energy, chemicals, telecommunications, and semiconductors. In the semiconductor sector, its subsidiary, SK Hynix Inc., is a key player in the global memory chip market. With the rapid development of AI technology, SK Group has decided to increase its investment in this field because of the growing demand for high-performance computing and storage solutions.
SK Group's investment focus will be on the R&D and production of high-bandwidth memory chips (HBMs). HBM technology is a core component of AI and high-performance computing applications, and is valued for its high memory bandwidth and capacity. SK hynix's HBM chips have been optimized for AI accelerators from industry leaders such as NVIDIA, a move that demonstrates SK Group's commitment to working with global technology pioneers to advance AI technology.
To achieve this goal, SK Group plans to raise funds through a variety of channels, including improving the group's overall profitability, optimizing its business structure, promoting internal synergies, and seeking external financing. These funds will focus on the R&D and application of AI technology, as well as the improvement of chip manufacturing and R&D capabilities.
In the field of AI, SK Group will focus on cutting-edge fields such as AI assistant services and personalized AI solutions, and is committed to providing users with a more intelligent and convenient service experience. At the same time, SK Group will increase investment in AI technology research and development to promote continuous innovation and application expansion of AI technology.
Figure: Sk hynix will invest $56 billion in AI chips in 2026 (Source: Nikkei).
In the chip field, SK Group plans to further enhance its chip manufacturing capabilities, especially in key products such as high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips and data center chips. As a key advanced memory supplier to world-renowned AI manufacturers such as NVIDIA, SK Group understands the importance of chip technology to AI development. Therefore, the group will increase investment in chip R&D and production to ensure its leading position in the global semiconductor market.
SK Group's investment plan will have a profound impact on the global technology industry. On the one hand, it will promote the further popularization and application of AI technology, and promote the digital transformation and intelligent upgrading of related industries. With the widespread application of AI technology, the production efficiency, service quality, and user experience of all industries will be significantly improved.
On the other hand, SK Group's investment in the chip field will also contribute to the development of the global semiconductor industry. As the core component of modern technology products, the improvement of manufacturing technology of chips is crucial to the progress of the entire technology industry. SK Group's investment in the chip field will promote technological innovation and market expansion in the global semiconductor industry, contributing to the prosperity and development of the global technology industry.
In order to realize this ambitious investment plan, SK Group also plans to carry out business restructuring and operational reform to improve efficiency and profitability. The group has set a target of achieving a pre-tax profit of 40 trillion won by 2026, which not only shows SK Group's confidence in future development, but also reflects its keen insight into market trends.
