Samsung Electronics Brings ChatGPT and Codex to Global Staff

Three years ago, Samsung banned generative AI tools entirely after engineers accidentally leaked sensitive source code through ChatGPT. Now, according to OpenAI, Samsung Electronics is deploying ChatGPT Enterprise and Codex to all its employees in Korea and all Device eXperience (DX) division employees worldwide, in what OpenAI describes as one of its largest enterprise deployments to date.

The reversal required Samsung to build guardrails first. From April to May, the DX division ran a two-month proof-of-concept with 2,500 employees testing ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude, and built a control system that grants tool access only to staff who complete internal security training. Codex has already shown real traction: weekly active users in Korea grew nearly 800% since February 1, 2026, before the full deployment was announced.

Roh Tae-moon, President and Head of Samsung Electronics' DX Division, described the shift as structural rather than incremental: "This is not simply about introducing AI as a workplace tool. It marks the starting point for fundamentally transforming the way we work and execute." Harrison Kim, General Manager of OpenAI Korea, called the deployment "historic," noting Samsung was "embracing AI not as a tool limited to certain teams or functions, but as a core platform."

The deal also establishes Samsung SDS, Samsung's IT services arm, as the first Korean entity authorized to manage ChatGPT Enterprise deployments for other businesses through a reseller partnership with OpenAI, giving OpenAI a new enterprise distribution channel in Korea's corporate market beyond Samsung itself. Training for the full global workforce is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

What the reporting does not give you is the financial terms, or why OpenAI was ultimately chosen over Gemini and Claude, both of which were tested in the same proof-of-concept. If the security architecture holds at scale, Samsung stands to become a flagship reference case for large-enterprise AI adoption in Asia.