APEC CEO summit to put AI in focus as global tech leaders weigh attendance
The KCCI serves as the secretariat of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) for next month's summit
APEC CEO summit to put AI in focus as global tech leaders weigh attendance
Seoul: Next month's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in Gyeongju is expected to shine a global spotlight on artificial intelligence (AI), with attention centering on whether top executives from Nvidia, OpenAI and other tech giants will take part in the gathering.
Scheduled for October 28-31 as an official side event of the multilateral summit between APEC leaders in Gyeongju, about 330 kms southeast of Seoul, the forum for global chief executive officers (CEOs) is being organised by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), reports Yonhap news agency.
The KCCI serves as the secretariat of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) for next month's summit. ABAC is a private-sector advisory body that delivers recommendations from business leaders to their respective governments, such as removing trade barriers.
Government and business leaders are working to finalize the participation of high-profile business figures, whose attendance at the CEO event could put AI as one of the major themes.
At the top of the list of prospective attendees is Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. An Nvidia representative told Yonhap News Agency that nothing has yet been fixed, but a separate industry source said Huang's visit is "most likely confirmed." KCCI Chairman Chey Tae-won, who also leads SK Group, personally invited Huang last month at a business roundtable held on the sidelines of a summit between President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump in Washington.
Huang had reportedly responded positively, with industry sources suggesting he is preparing to lead a dedicated AI session on the final day of the APEC CEO Summit.
He could also hold separate meetings with the South Korean president and other heads of state, and possibly visit the semiconductor facilities of Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is another closely watched figure. Chey also reportedly extended a personal invitation to Altman during their July meeting at OpenAI's San Francisco office.
