Key points
- Sam Altman met with approximately 50 Samsung executives in South Korea on October 30.
- Samsung and SK hynix held about 83 percent of global high-bandwidth memory revenue in the second quarter of 2026.
- Trendforce estimates DRAM supply will fall one to two percent short of demand this year.
This agreement includes supplying memory semiconductors for OpenAI’s Stargate project. The visit aligns with Altman’s recent public comments criticizing the allocation of memory chips, where he described DRAM in personal computers as underused and suggested data centers could share resources more intensively across AI workloads.OpenAI's chief executive visited South Korea to talk with Samsung about getting more computer memory for artificial intelligence projects.
The figures
Trendforce estimates that DRAM supply will fall one to two percent short of demand this year. Micron warns that the imbalance could worsen in 2027 and persist into 2028.
Behind the figures
The 83 percent market share figure refers specifically to high-bandwidth memory revenue in the second quarter of 2026.reported The supply shortfall estimate comes from Trendforce for the current year. Micron’s warning about shortages persisting into 2028 is based on the time required to bring new manufacturing capacity online.reported
Evidence: reported
Sam Altman meets with Samsung leadership to secure more RAM for data centers amid crushing shortages — OpenAI CEO travels to South Korea to meet Samsung leadership to discuss future AI data centersaifleet-tomshardware
Evidence: reported
Sam Altman meets with Samsung leadership to secure more RAM for data centers amid crushing shortages — OpenAI CEO travels to South Korea to meet Samsung leadership to discuss future AI data centersaifleet-tomshardware
The takeaway
Samsung emphasized AI transformation and future business opportunities during the meeting rather than announcing a new memory supply agreement. Altman presented Samsung’s AI Center head with a Codex Micro Keyboard, a device designed for use with OpenAI’s coding agent. The meeting highlights the pressure on global DRAM supplies as demand from AI centers soars, competing with PCs, smartphones, and other electronics for limited memory supplies.
The open questions
Samsung did not announce a new supply agreement, focusing instead on broader business opportunities. The extent to which Altman’s proposal to reallocate PC memory to data centers is feasible or accepted by the industry is also unconfirmed.unverified The sources do not state whether Samsung has agreed to prioritize OpenAI’s Stargate project over other customers.
Evidence: unverified
Sam Altman meets with Samsung leadership to secure more RAM for data centers amid crushing shortages — OpenAI CEO travels to South Korea to meet Samsung leadership to discuss future AI data centersaifleet-tomshardware
Why it matters
- Enterprise IT buyers may face increased costs or delays in acquiring high-bandwidth memory as AI demand consumes a larger share of global supply.
- The dominance of Samsung and SK hynix in the high-bandwidth memory market suggests limited alternatives for organizations needing specific AI hardware components.
- Potential supply shortfalls of one to two percent this year could impact the availability of memory chips for non-AI applications, including PCs and smartphones.
- The timeline for new manufacturing capacity indicates that supply constraints may persist into 2028, affecting long-term infrastructure planning.
Topics: AI infrastructure, memory chips, OpenAI, Samsung, DRAM
Updated
The strongest doubt
Counterpoint from the sources
Altman’s suggestion that data centers should make more intensive use of memory by sharing resources has drawn widespread criticism, given that OpenAI’s own services rely heavily on centralized computing infrastructure.
Ask the article
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Your choice stays on this device. No public tally.Terms in this story
DRAM
Dynamic random-access memory, a type of computer memory used for storing data temporarily.
High-bandwidth memory
A type of memory technology designed to provide very high data transfer rates, often used in AI applications.
Stargate project
An OpenAI initiative mentioned in the letter of intent with Samsung for global AI infrastructure.
Questions readers ask
When did Sam Altman meet with Samsung executives?
The meeting took place on October 30 at Samsung’s Resources Development Center in Yongin, South Korea.
What is the current state of DRAM supply?
Trendforce estimates that DRAM supply will fall one to two percent short of demand this year.
Did Samsung announce a new memory deal with OpenAI?
No, Samsung emphasized AI transformation and future business opportunities rather than announcing a new memory supply agreement.
Connected stories
Reading receipt
- Sam Altman met with approximately 50 Samsung executives in South Korea on October 30.
- Samsung and SK hynix held about 83 percent of global high-bandwidth memory revenue in the second quarter of 2026.
- Trendforce estimates DRAM supply will fall one to two percent short of demand this year.