Anthropic chips ambitions surface in request to SK Hynix
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae Won said Anthropic asked SK Hynix for supplies to make its own semiconductors.
By Hana Yoshida · Markets Reporter
2 min read
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae Won said Anthropic PBC has asked SK Hynix Inc. for supplies to make its own semiconductors, bringing Anthropic chips ambitions into public view. The remark matters because SK Hynix is one of the world’s biggest memory-chip makers, according to Bloomberg, and is controlled by Chey’s SK Group.
Chey made the comment during an AI event in San Francisco, where he appeared on stage with Anthropic Chief Executive Officer Dario Amodei and other technology executives, Bloomberg reported. Chey described it as remarkable that an AI developer would be pursuing its own chip work.
Anthropic is known as an AI developer, while SK Hynix is a major supplier in the semiconductor industry. Chey’s comments suggest Anthropic has looked to a leading memory-chip manufacturer for materials or components tied to its own semiconductor effort, though no terms, product details or timeline were disclosed in Bloomberg’s report.
Why does Anthropic want chip supplies?
Chey said the request was connected to Anthropic making its own semiconductors. Semiconductors are the chips used to power computing systems, and memory chips are a key category made by SK Hynix.
Bloomberg did not report whether Anthropic has committed to producing a chip, whether SK Hynix agreed to supply the company, or what kind of semiconductor Anthropic may be considering. The public detail is limited to Chey’s statement that Anthropic asked SK Hynix for supplies.
How SK Hynix fits into the AI event
Chey’s appearance in San Francisco coincided with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s trip to Silicon Valley, Bloomberg reported. Lee convened an AI summit during the visit.
Several technology deals are being announced around the South Korean president’s appearance, according to Bloomberg. Those include partnerships between Nvidia Corp. and South Korea’s Naver Corp., as well as between Nvidia and SK Group.
The setting placed South Korean technology companies alongside major U.S. AI and chip players. SK Group’s role is notable because it controls SK Hynix, giving Chey a direct view into requests from AI companies seeking semiconductor supplies.
Chey’s disclosure adds Anthropic to the list of AI companies publicly linked to chip-related ambitions. Bloomberg’s report did not include a comment from Anthropic or SK Hynix beyond Chey’s remarks at the event.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.