Samsung $1 Billion Investment in Helix AI Infrastructure Firm
Samsung Electronics and five of its affiliates will invest a combined $1 billion in Helix Digital Infrastructure, an AI infrastructure company launched by KKR and backed by Nvidia. Samsung Electronics will provide $500 million, while Samsung C&T, Samsung SDS, Samsung SDI, Samsung Life Insurance and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance will contribute the remaining amount.
The investment comes as demand for computing capacity continues to expand, increasing the need for both large data centres and the power systems required to operate them.
The Samsung $1 billion Helix investment gives the South Korean technology group exposure to infrastructure projects covering hyperscale data centres, power generation, transmission and distribution networks, as well as fibre-optic infrastructure.
Samsung said the deal will allow its affiliates to combine capabilities across several areas. These include semiconductors, cooling systems, data-centre construction and batteries, giving the group multiple points of involvement in AI infrastructure projects.
Helix was launched in June and is led by Adam Selipsky, the former chief executive of Amazon Web Services. Its founding investors include KKR, Nvidia, the Kuwait Investment Authority and US power company Vistra.
The Helix AI infrastructure investment comes on top of more than $10 billion in funds already committed to the company, according to KKR. Helix is targeting infrastructure beyond computing facilities, including the electricity and connectivity systems needed to support large-scale AI deployments.
For Samsung, the investment provides an opportunity to work across its different businesses as AI data-centre demand grows. The company said it plans to accelerate the global rollout of AI data centres through its collaboration with Helix and the other participating investors.
Samsung Electronics shares rose 2.13% on Tuesday morning, while South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index was down 0.53%.
The Samsung $1 billion Helix investment is expected to support Helix’s expansion as the company develops projects across data centres, energy infrastructure and fibre-optic networks.
KKR said it has invested more than $75 billion globally across digital infrastructure and power. The firm has also invested about $9 billion in South Korea since 2009.
The Helix AI infrastructure investment places Samsung alongside major financial, technology, and energy investors as competition increases around the infrastructure needed to support the next phase of AI development.
