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OpenAI Partners with Kakao and Explores Stargate Project with SoftBank and Samsung

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OpenAI has announced a significant partnership with South Korea’s Kakao, marking a second high-profile alliance in Asia this week. The collaboration will focus on developing artificial intelligence products tailored for the South Korean market. Kakao, known for operating the popular messaging app KakaoTalk, which holds 97% of the local market share, is keen on leveraging OpenAI’s technology to fuel its expansion into AI, e-commerce, payments, and gaming. Despite its efforts, analysts note Kakao has lagged behind local rival Naver in the AI sector.

OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, who is currently on a tour of Asia, also met with executives from Samsung Electronics, SoftBank, and Arm Holdings in Seoul. Discussions centered around the Stargate project, an AI data centre initiative in the U.S. that is supported by U.S. President Donald Trump. SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son confirmed that potential cooperation between SoftBank, Samsung, and OpenAI regarding Stargate was discussed, though no specific details were shared. Altman declined to comment on the partnership talks, emphasizing the need for confidentiality.

The Stargate initiative aims to enhance AI capabilities in the U.S. through a collaboration between OpenAI and Oracle. Altman mentioned that several South Korean companies, particularly those in energy, semiconductors, and the internet, would play a crucial role in supporting the project. Furthermore, discussions were held with SK Group’s chairman, Chey Tae-won, regarding potential collaborations in AI chips and the broader AI ecosystem, with both Samsung and SK Hynix producing essential memory chips for AI processors.

OpenAI is also actively considering involvement in South Korea’s national AI computing centre project, which is expected to attract up to 2 trillion won ($1.4 billion) in public and private investment. This marks a continued push by OpenAI to expand its presence in Asia and solidify partnerships with major players in the region.

Following the announcement, Kakao’s stock fell by 2%, reversing the 9% surge it experienced the previous day.

 

Nokia and AT&T Sign Multi-Year Expansion Deal for Voice and 5G Automation

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Nokia and AT&T have signed a multi-year expansion agreement aimed at enhancing AT&T’s voice services and automating its 5G network in the U.S. This deal, announced on Tuesday, marks a significant step for Nokia, which follows a setback in 2023 when AT&T selected Swedish rival Ericsson for a major telecoms contract. Despite losing out on that $14 billion contract, which will cover 70% of AT&T’s wireless traffic by 2026, Nokia secured a smaller deal in September to build a fiber network in the U.S. and now has locked in this second agreement for cloud-based voice core applications and network automation.

Raghav Sahgal, president of Nokia’s Cloud and Network Services division, emphasized the importance of the deal, highlighting it as a reinforcement of the longstanding partnership between the two companies. The upgraded core network will integrate new voice services, leveraging AI and machine learning to offer enhanced functionality.

The specific value of the deal was not disclosed, but the partnership is seen as key for Nokia, as it continues to strengthen its foothold in the North American telecoms market. The collaboration with AT&T will focus on optimizing network operations and enabling new services that meet the evolving needs of customers.

Nokia recently reported stronger-than-expected financial results for Q4, driven by growing demand for telecom equipment in North America and India, and it is optimistic about prospects for 2025. In an effort to tap into the AI boom, Nokia also acquired Infinera in a $2.3 billion deal last year, aiming to capitalize on investments in data centers, including the significant Stargate project.

 

Australia Bans DeepSeek on Government Devices Over Security Risks

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Australia has announced a ban on the Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek from all government devices, citing national security concerns. The government issued a mandatory directive requiring all federal agencies to prevent the use or installation of DeepSeek’s products, applications, and web services on government systems. Any existing instances of these services must also be removed, according to a statement released by the Department of Home Affairs.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke described DeepSeek as posing an “unacceptable risk” to government technology, with the ban being enforced to protect the nation’s security and interests. The move was made swiftly, responding to growing concerns regarding the startup’s potential vulnerabilities.

This ban does not apply to private citizens, only targeting government-operated systems. The decision follows a broader international trend, with several other countries, including Italy and Taiwan, also taking steps to restrict DeepSeek’s influence. Taiwan recently banned government departments from using the company’s services, while Italy imposed similar measures.

The launch of DeepSeek has raised alarms in the tech industry, particularly with its low cost and minimal hardware requirements compared to rival AI models. The startup’s emergence has led to significant market volatility, with global tech stocks experiencing declines as investors question the viability of Western investments in AI infrastructure.

Australia’s action is part of its broader efforts to tighten control over foreign technology, following its previous ban of the Chinese social media app TikTok on government devices two years ago over similar security concerns.