South Korean memory giant SK Hynix is betting on artificial intelligence to reinvent how semiconductors are made, using NVIDIA’s Omniverse platform to build “digital twin” models of its factories and push toward fully smart fabs.
The move highlights how Korea, already a linchpin of the global memory chip supply chain, is weaving AI into manufacturing itself—a development closely watched by U.S. tech companies that rely on Korean semiconductors for everything from data centers to AI servers.
At SEMICON West 2025 in San Francisco, Jin Lim, executive vice president at SK Hynix, will appear alongside executives from NVIDIA and ASML to present case studies on how Omniverse simulations can optimize chipmaking. The session will cover predictive maintenance, data-driven decision-making, and real-time process modeling—practical applications designed to reduce downtime and improve yields.
SK Hynix has been preparing its workforce for the shift. In July, NVIDIA partner Leaders Systems ran hands-on training in Korea, teaching SK engineers how to integrate Omniverse-based digital twins into real fab environments. The program focused on turning high-concept simulation tools into shop-floor execution.
For SK Hynix, the partnership is as much about competitiveness as technology. By embedding AI directly into manufacturing, the company hopes to cut costs, streamline production, and secure an edge in next-generation chips as global demand surges from AI applications.
NVIDIA’s Omniverse, which merges generative AI with physics-based simulations, is becoming a critical tool for industries looking to digitize complex workflows. If successful in Korea’s fabs, the approach could serve as a model for manufacturers worldwide—including U.S. firms searching for ways to balance AI-driven demand with production efficiency.
South Korea has long been a focal point in the chip economy, but the integration of Omniverse into SK Hynix’s fabs underscores how the country is moving beyond supplying memory chips: it is testing how AI itself can transform the factory floor.
