South Korean leader will meet OpenAI boss this Wednesday

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung is meeting with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in Seoul to discuss AI industry development and potential collaborations. The talks focus on partnerships with Korean tech giants, national AI transformation strategies, and investment opportunities. This meeting follows OpenAI's recent establishment of a Korean office led by former Google Korea president Kim Kyoung-hoon. South Korea aims to become a global AI leader through supportive government policies that balance innovation with regulation. Korean companies like Naver, Kakao, and LG are developing specialized AI solutions to compete globally. The outcome could significantly impact South Korea's ambitions to become one of the world's top three AI nations.

Fermi America raised $682 million in its IPO to build one of the world's largest data center campuses in Amarillo, Texas. Co-founded by former Energy Secretary Rick Perry, the company plans to develop integrated data centers with on-site power generation, combining natural gas, small modular nuclear reactors, and solar power. This "HyperGrid" approach offers clients "grid-independent" power, appealing to AI and cloud companies requiring uninterrupted operations. Trading under FRMI on Nasdaq and London exchanges, Fermi reached a $12-13.2 billion valuation despite being pre-revenue with $6.4 million in losses. The company aims to develop 1.1 gigawatts of power capacity and 1 million square feet of data center space by 2026, eventually expanding to 11 gigawatts and 18 million square feet by 2038.

Disney has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Character.AI over alleged unauthorized use of Disney's intellectual property. The startup, which creates conversational AI avatars, is accused of allowing users to interact with chatbots that replicate popular Disney characters. This legal action highlights Disney's efforts to protect its characters and trademarks in the growing AI sector. The dispute is part of a broader trend where entertainment companies are monitoring how their intellectual property is used by AI applications. The outcome could establish a precedent for how media companies regulate their IP in relation to AI platforms, potentially prompting both startups and major AI developers to reassess their policies on user-generated content and IP protection. Character.AI has not yet publicly responded to the letter.

Meta Platforms Inc. has acquired semiconductor startup Rivos to enhance its in-house AI chip development capabilities. The strategic acquisition aims to reduce Meta's dependence on external suppliers like Nvidia, potentially saving billions in annual expenses. Rivos specializes in GPU technology essential for large-scale AI workloads, complementing Meta's existing custom chip program. This move aligns with Meta's goal of achieving "superintelligence" and reflects a growing trend of tech giants developing proprietary AI hardware. The acquisition challenges Nvidia's market dominance and could lead to more cost-efficient AI infrastructure across the industry.