[Gyeongju APEC] AWS CEO Matt Garman: "Over $40 Billion to Be Invested in AI Agents" (Comprehensive)

APEC CEO Summit "AI-Driven Economy" Session
Naver CEO Soo-Yeon Choi: "AI Data Centers Are Essential for Full-Stack AI"
Meta: "Smart Glasses Will Become a Major Computing Device"

Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services (AWS), announced plans to invest over 40 billion dollars (approximately 57 trillion won) to accelerate the spread of artificial intelligence (AI) agents in the Asia-Pacific region. Soo-Yeon Choi, CEO of Naver, emphasized the importance of building AI data centers.

On the morning of the 29th, during the "AI-Driven Economy" session at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit held at the Gyeongju Arts Center in Gyeongbuk, CEO Garman stated, "We have decided to invest more than 40 billion dollars in the 14 APEC economies," adding, "This investment is expected to contribute over 45 billion dollars (about 64.5 trillion won) to GDP."

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CEO Garman described AI agents as "game changers" that go beyond the capabilities of traditional chatbots and can fulfill users' needs. He cited the example of Mitsubishi UFJ in Japan, which adopted AI agents and succeeded in increasing its customer base tenfold and boosting contract success rates by more than 30%.

He also stressed the importance of infrastructure investment. CEO Garman said, "Infrastructure investment is essential to turn change into reality," and added, "Through large-scale investments, we will enable the introduction of services on AWS's robust infrastructure."

He went on to introduce AWS's ongoing infrastructure investments in Japan, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, and other countries. Regarding the AI data center being established in Ulsan in cooperation with SK Group, he said, "We are actively investing in building a data center in Ulsan and will dedicate it to meeting demand within Korea."

CEO Garman emphasized, "The core of AI innovation for business transformation is data," and noted, "If data remains confined within closed systems, the advantages of AI cannot be utilized. Infrastructure investment in cloud computing services is necessary for AI agents."

Soo-Yeon Choi, CEO of Naver, is delivering a keynote speech at the "2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit (APEC CEO SUMMIT)" held at the Gyeongju Arts Center in Gyeongbuk on the 29th. 2025.10.29 Photo by Kang Jinhyung

In the same session, CEO Choi stated, "The foundation and core infrastructure for realizing AI technologies that enable a better future for everyone is the AI data center," highlighting the need to build and support AI data centers.

CEO Choi pointed out, "Globally, many countries are competitively pursuing the construction of AI data centers as large-scale national strategic projects, and the Korean government is also preparing for another national leap forward by building new infrastructure, the 'AI Highway,' following the Information Superhighway."

She mentioned specific support measures such as tax incentives and regulatory easing. CEO Choi stressed, "Expanding tax benefits for AI data centers, streamlining administrative procedures, and relaxing location regulations will serve as practical support measures that inject significant vitality into the field."

Regarding the special law being promoted by the government and National Assembly to support AI data centers, she said, "It will serve as the institutional foundation for transforming the national industrial structure with AI," and evaluated, "Such active efforts by the government and National Assembly will lay the groundwork for human-centered, inclusive AI that enables a better future not only for companies but for everyone."

She also introduced Naver's experience in building a full-stack AI and emphasized the need to establish a fair AI ecosystem that benefits everyone. CEO Choi stated, "Addressing the pressing power and environmental issues faced by AI data centers requires joint efforts," and added, "I hope today's gathering marks the starting point of meaningful cooperation to solve our shared challenges together."

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Simon Milner, Vice President of Public Policy for Asia-Pacific at Meta, who spoke next, predicted that AI-powered smart glasses will advance rapidly. Introducing Meta's smart glasses, "Ray-Ban Meta," which he was wearing, he said, "Smart glasses will become a major computing device thanks to their ability to understand the human perspective."

He continued, "Meta will focus on building a top-tier lineup of AI glasses," and predicted, "Just as the mobile market evolved into the smartphone era, analog glasses will also develop into powerful AI glasses."

Milner also introduced Meta's current AI infrastructure investments. He stated, "We will invest hundreds of billions of dollars in artificial superintelligence and AI infrastructure," and added, "AI has the potential to fundamentally change the economic structure, and we are working to unlock this potential."