South Korean startup FuriosaAI just landed a major win, and no, it didn’t involve selling to Meta for $800 million.
Instead, it partnered with LG AI Research to supply its custom-built RNGD AI chip to power EXAONE 4.0, LG’s shiny new flagship AI model.
This team-up is more than just a local collaboration. It’s a bold statement: Korea wants AI independence, and Furiosa’s tech is officially in the spotlight. Let’s rewind. Back in May, Meta reportedly tried to acquire FuriosaAI for $800 million. But the deal fizzled, not because of the price tag, but due to clashing visions. Meta wanted control. Furiosa wanted freedom. So, they walked.
In the words of CEO June Paik
“We want to continue our mission… It’s an impactful contribution to make AI computing more sustainable.”
And that mission just leveled up. LG’s EXAONE 4.0, a next-generation hybrid AI model, is designed for high-performance applications across various industries, including finance, biotech, telecom, and electronics. It needs serious horsepower to run. Enter RNGD.
Related: U.S. Puts Brakes on 1 Billion Dollar Nvidia Chip Deal With UAE Over China Fears.
Unlike traditional GPUs, Furiosa’s chip wasn’t built to render your gaming graphics. It was designed for AI workloads only, leaner, meaner, and apparently 2.25 times faster than the competition when running EXAONE models. Not to mention, it’s also more energy efficient.
And here is the kicker: LG is one of the few major players to publicly back a non-Nvidia chip. That is huge. As Paik puts it, “We had to prove our solution delivers performance and lowers total cost of ownership.” Translation: better, cheaper, and not Team Green.
With a lean global team of just 15 employees (yes, 15!), FuriosaAI is now poised to supply its chips far beyond South Korea. LG isn’t just keeping EXAONE in-house; they are already working with global clients, and Furiosa’s chips are part of that expansion.
So, what does this mean?
A homegrown chip startup just stood toe-to-toe with GPU giants, said “no thanks” to a tech titan, and bagged a high-profile enterprise deal anyway.
