Seoul
Next month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in Gyeongju is set to spotlight artificial intelligence (AI), as organizers work to secure participation from global tech leaders including Nvidia and OpenAI executives. Scheduled for October 28-31, the CEO forum is a side event of the multilateral APEC leaders’ summit and is being organized by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), which serves as the secretariat for the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).
Government and industry leaders are finalizing attendance of high-profile CEOs, whose participation could make AI a central theme. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is expected to lead an AI-focused session, while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman may also attend. Both have received personal invitations from KCCI Chairman Chey Tae-won, who is also preparing to leverage the summit to showcase South Korea’s AI ecosystem and semiconductor capabilities, including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.
Other potential attendees include Tim Cook of Apple, Sundar Pichai of Google, Citigroup’s Jane Fraser, Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu, and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew. The summit aims to foster collaboration, connect global companies, and highlight South Korean innovation and sustainability.
Beyond the CEO forum, AI will be a key focus at the leaders’ summit, with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung presenting the “APEC AI Initiative,” promoting the vision of “AI for all” to ensure technology benefits humanity universally. Organizers expect confirmations by mid-October, while business leaders are using the Chuseok holiday to strategize international partnerships. The APEC CEO Summit Is poised to become a global platform for AI dialogue, investment, and technological collaboration, strengthening South Korea’s role in shaping the future of innovation.