Opensourceforu reports that Naver has cemented its position within the global artificial intelligence landscape by becoming a member of NVIDIA’s Nemotron consortium. This collaboration is not merely about adopting technology; it represents a deep commitment to building localized, sovereign AI capabilities tailored specifically for the Korean market.
Driving Sovereign Capabilities with Open Models
The core of this partnership involves joint research and development on optimization and foundation technologies for LLMs. Crucially, Nemotron is an open model, which provides Naver with a distinct advantage over proprietary systems developed by competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic. This openness allows Naver to customize the models extensively using locally sourced data and operational expertise.
Specifically, Naver plans to fine-tune Nemotron3 Ultra utilizing Korean language datasets. This process is essential for enhancing its HyperCLOVA X AI platform, ensuring that the resulting systems meet unique national requirements while maintaining high performance standards. The partnership spans several critical domains, including:
- AI models and foundation technologies
- Physical AI deployment
- Data center infrastructure development
- Agentic AI system design
Scaling Infrastructure to Gigawatt Capacity
Beyond the software and model collaboration, the deal includes massive commitments to physical infrastructure. NVIDIA announced that Naver will construct a gigawatt-scale AI Factory based on NVIDIA DSX, an integrated platform combining modular open-source software, APIs, design frameworks, and a robust partner ecosystem.
The scaling timeline is aggressive: Naver intends to launch a 55MW AI Factory in 2027. This initial facility will serve as the foundation for future expansion, with plans to increase overseas capacity to 200MW by 2028, ultimately leading toward the full gigawatt-scale goal. In a company statement, Naver emphasized its commitment, noting that it is participating as a global core partner where both companies will jointly bear business outcomes and risks.
Expanding AI Horizons with Cosmos and NemoClaw
The scope of the collaboration extends beyond general LLM development. Naver also plans to leverage NVIDIA’s advanced tools for specialized applications. This includes enhancing its Seoul World Model digital twin using NVIDIA Cosmos, allowing for highly accurate simulations of urban environments. Furthermore, the partnership will facilitate the establishment of a dedicated Korean AI agent platform built upon NVIDIA NemoClaw. This multi-faceted approach positions Naver not just as an LLM user, but as a major architect in the future of localized, powerful AI systems.
The strategic alliance between Naver and NVIDIA underscores a global trend where national tech giants are leveraging open-source frameworks to achieve technological self-sufficiency while simultaneously building out massive computational infrastructure.