Samsung Lifts AI Ban: ChatGPT Enterprise & Codex Now Approved for Employee Use

Samsung Electronics is significantly expanding employee access to ChatGPT Enterprise and Codex, providing staff with broader capabilities to leverage AI tools for both technical and non-technical workflows across the organization.

According to OpenAI, the deployment encompasses all Samsung Electronics employees in Korea and all Device eXperience (DX) division employees worldwide. The DX division includes smartphones, consumer electronics, and home appliances.

Samsung plans to integrate these AI tools across multiple business functions including software development, marketing, product development, manufacturing, and various other operational areas. The tools will support critical tasks such as information search, document drafting, idea development, data interpretation, and code-related work.

🔄 Samsung Revisits Employee AI Use Policy

This rollout marks a significant shift, coming three years after Samsung initially restricted employee use of generative AI tools due to data-security concerns. In 2023, the company limited access to ChatGPT and similar tools following concerns that sensitive internal information had been uploaded to external AI platforms.

The new deployment provides employees with access to ChatGPT Enterprise, which includes comprehensive controls for data protection, user access management, and security oversight.

OpenAI emphasized that the enterprise version enables organizations to manage users effectively, apply access controls, and utilize AI tools within internal security requirements.

Samsung's deployment strategy is notably comprehensive—not limited to a single business unit or technical group. OpenAI confirmed that the tools will be utilized across a broad spectrum of functions, encompassing both technical and non-technical teams.

💡 ChatGPT Enterprise Capabilities

OpenAI stated that ChatGPT can support knowledge-based tasks including:

• 📊 Searching for information and analyzing materials
• 📝 Drafting documents and developing ideas
• 📈 Interpreting data and generating insights

⚙️ Codex for Technical and Non-Technical Work

Codex will be deployed for software-related tasks such as writing, reviewing, and debugging code. OpenAI indicated the tool is also being leveraged for internal tools development, website creation, software prototypes, and automated workflows.

Notably, Codex can also support non-technical teams in their day-to-day operations, including helping employees create internal tools and automated workflows without extensive programming knowledge.

OpenAI reported that Codex now has more than five million weekly users across technical and non-technical workflows globally. In Korea specifically, weekly active users of Codex have grown nearly 800% since February 1, 2026, according to the company.

Harrison Kim, general manager of OpenAI Korea, described the agreement as one of OpenAI's largest enterprise deployments, noting that Samsung is utilizing AI across teams and functions rather than restricting it to specific departments.

🔗 Samsung and OpenAI's Infrastructure Partnership

In October 2025, Samsung announced it would collaborate with OpenAI as a strategic memory partner for the Stargate AI infrastructure initiative, with OpenAI's memory demand projected to reach up to 900,000 DRAM wafers per month.

Samsung SDS also entered a potential partnership with OpenAI to jointly develop AI data centres and provide enterprise AI services. Samsung stated that this agreement would enable Samsung SDS to offer consulting, deployment, and management services for businesses integrating OpenAI models into their internal systems.

Additionally, Samsung SDS signed a reseller partnership to offer OpenAI services in Korea. Under this arrangement, Samsung SDS will support Korean companies adopting ChatGPT Enterprise and other OpenAI services.

Reuters reported that Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix had signed letters of intent to supply memory chips for OpenAI's Stargate project. The report indicated that the two South Korean chipmakers together account for approximately 70% of the global DRAM market and nearly 80% of the high-bandwidth memory market.

High-bandwidth memory (HBM) is critical for supporting fast data movement between memory and processors in AI systems. Reuters reported that OpenAI's chip demand for Stargate may reach 900,000 wafers per month, citing South Korea's presidential office.

Samsung confirmed that its semiconductor businesses would support OpenAI's demand with advanced memory solutions. The company also indicated that its affiliates are exploring broader collaborations with OpenAI in areas including data centres, enterprise services, and AI infrastructure.

📊 AI Adoption and Productivity Insights

Deloitte's 2026 State of AI in the Enterprise report found that 66% of organizations reported productivity or efficiency gains from enterprise AI adoption. The same report found that 53% reported improved insights and decision-making capabilities.

A Bpifrance survey reported by Reuters found that 77% of 534 French mid-sized company heads said their firms used generative AI, though only 17% of those using it reported time savings.

Samsung has identified diverse use cases across document work, information analysis, coding, product development, marketing, and manufacturing. The deployment provides employees with access to ChatGPT Enterprise and Codex for these tasks under a comprehensive company-wide agreement.

🇰🇷 OpenAI's Growing Korea Partnerships

OpenAI has announced several additional partnerships in Korea. Seoul National University recently began providing ChatGPT Edu to 47,000 students, faculty, and staff.

OpenAI has also collaborated with Kakao to integrate ChatGPT responses into KakaoTalk group chats. The company reported that major Korean organizations are actively using OpenAI's suite of tools, including:

• LG Electronics, LG Uplus, LG CNS
• GS E&C, Samsung SDS, TVING
• Krafton, Toss, MUSINSA
• Korea Zinc, Nexen Tire, HanaTour

These organizations are utilizing ChatGPT Enterprise, OpenAI APIs, or Codex to enhance their operational capabilities and drive digital transformation initiatives.

(Photo by Zulfugar Karimov)