Naver and NVIDIA Join Forces on Sovereign AI to Advance Global Digital Sovereignty

Focus on ‘Sovereign AI’ to Strengthen Global Digital Sovereignty

On May 22, key executives from Naver and NVIDIA gathered at NVIDIA's office in Taiwan to discuss strategies around "sovereign AI." This meeting brought together Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon, Naver Board Chairman Lee Hae-jin, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, NVIDIA Executive Vice President Jay Fury, and Naver Cloud CEO Kim Yu-won, highlighting the growing collaboration between these two tech leaders.

Sovereign AI refers to AI systems that enable countries to collect, store, and process data within their borders. Both Naver and NVIDIA are committed to developing large language models (LLMs) that are specifically optimized for local languages and cultures. This approach supports digital sovereignty, allowing nations to maintain control over their data and AI infrastructure.

Strategic Collaboration and Market Expansion

The intensifying global competition around AI has brought digital sovereignty into sharper focus. Naver’s leadership, including Chairman Lee and CEO Choi, met with NVIDIA executives to explore ways to deepen their partnership. This session marked their third CEO-level meeting, emphasizing the importance of this alliance.

Last year, Lee and the Naver executive team visited NVIDIA’s U.S. headquarters to lay the groundwork for their sovereign AI strategy. In March 2025, Naver Cloud CEO Kim Yu-won presented their vision for building sovereign AI based on the AI value chain at NVIDIA’s GTC developer conference in San Jose.

Potential in Southeast Asia

Industry analysts suggest that Naver and NVIDIA may target Southeast Asia for their Sovereign AI initiatives. Naver's AI and cloud capabilities could integrate with NVIDIA’s GPU resources to jointly develop sovereign AI models alongside local companies in the region. This plan aligns with Naver’s stated goal to secure partnerships and deliver concrete results in Southeast Asia within the year.

NVIDIA’s experience building sovereign AI infrastructure is already evident in its partnership with Norway’s Telenor, where they created the country’s first sovereign AI cloud. Similarly, NVIDIA’s collaboration with Oracle is providing sovereign AI solutions globally, combining NVIDIA’s computing power with Oracle’s cloud infrastructure.

Broader Asian and U.S. Alliances

Naver is also pursuing collaborations beyond NVIDIA. Its ongoing Arabic-based LLM project in Saudi Arabia reflects a broader strategy to build AI ecosystems tailored to diverse linguistic and cultural contexts. The company is exploring expansion within the U.S. and allied markets, having engaged in talks with figures such as Donald Trump Jr.

Additionally, Naver has partnered with Intel and the domestic firm Squeezebit to co-develop the AI chip Gaudi, signaling a commitment to innovation in AI hardware alongside software solutions.

• Key focus: Supporting countries to build sovereign AI solutions that respect local data sovereignty.
• Collaboration model: Combining Naver’s AI/cloud strengths with NVIDIA’s GPU platforms.
• Target regions: Southeast Asia, Middle East, United States, and allied countries.
• Existing partnerships: Telenor (Norway), Oracle, Intel, Squeezebit.

This strategic focus on sovereign AI positions Naver and NVIDIA as influential players in shaping how countries manage AI technologies on their own terms.

Executives interested in digital sovereignty and AI infrastructure development may find value in following these developments closely. For practical insights into AI and cloud technologies, exploring specialized courses can provide a deeper understanding of the technical and strategic aspects. Consider browsing relevant AI courses at Complete AI Training for up-to-date learning resources.