Samsung commits $1 billion to KKR-backed Helix Digital AI infrastructure

Sep 28, 2026

Samsung Electronics and its affiliates have committed $1 billion to Helix Digital Infrastructure, an AI infrastructure firm launched by KKR and backed by Nvidia. Samsung Electronics is contributing $500 million, with five affiliates providing the rest. The deal brings Helix's total secured capital to over $11 billion, supporting its global rollout of hyperscale data centers and power generation. The partnership allows Samsung to leverage its semiconductor, battery, and cooling system capabilities.

Samsung $1 billion Helix investment

▪Samsung Electronics and its affiliates committed a combined $1 billion investment to Helix Digital Infrastructure on September 29, 2026
▪Following Samsung's $1 billion investment announcement in Helix Digital Infrastructure, Samsung Electronics shares rose 2.13% on the morning of September 29, 2026, while the benchmark Kospi index fell 0.53%

Helix Digital Infrastructure platform

▪Helix Digital Infrastructure was launched in June 2026 and is led by Adam Selipsky, the former CEO of Amazon Web Services
▪The founding and anchor investors of Helix Digital Infrastructure include KKR, the Kuwait Investment Authority, Nvidia, and U.S. power company Vistra
▪The $1 billion investment from Samsung brings the total secured capital committed to Helix Digital Infrastructure to more than $11 billion

AI data center infrastructure

▪Helix Digital Infrastructure expects to use Nvidia technology, Samsung technology, and Samsung energy storage capabilities to accelerate the development and delivery of its AI infrastructure
▪Helix Digital Infrastructure focuses on building and managing AI-enabling infrastructure, including hyperscale data centers, power generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure, and fiber-optic networks

Samsung affiliate collaboration

▪Samsung stated that its $1 billion investment would help accelerate the global rollout of AI data centers through Helix Digital Infrastructure while creating opportunities for collaboration among participating Samsung affiliates
▪Samsung's $1 billion investment in Helix Digital Infrastructure allows Samsung to leverage capabilities across its affiliates, spanning semiconductors, cooling systems, data center construction, and batteries, to expand its role in global AI infrastructure

KKR digital infrastructure portfolio

▪KKR has invested approximately $9 billion in South Korea since 2009
▪KKR has invested more than $75 billion globally across digital infrastructure and power

Debatable claims

▪The massive capital rush into AI infrastructure will lead to a speculative bubble
▪Private equity ownership of critical power infrastructure harms public grid reliability
▪Samsung's insurance affiliates should not fund high-risk AI infrastructure investments
▪The societal benefits of AI justify the massive energy footprint of its data centers