FADU projected that in artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, the role of solid-state drives (SSD) will be segmented by performance and capacity. In line with this, the company plans to continue developing next-generation SSD controllers and expand its business scope from controller-centric offerings to a full range of solutions for AI data centers.
FADU said on the 24th that it took part in the "2026 OCP Korea Tech Day" held at Coex in Seoul on the 21st and presented the changing role of flash memory in AI data centers and the development direction of SSD controller technology. The Open Compute Project (OCP) is a global community that develops core data center infrastructure technologies—servers, storage, networks, power, and cooling—through open collaboration. OCP Korea Tech Day is an annual event hosted by the OCP Foundation and the domestic community since 2019, and about 1,500 people attended this year.
Kim Seung-min, a FADU fellow, delivered a keynote titled "Flash memory inside AI data centers: new roles for SSDs and controllers." Kim said that as the volume of data processed in AI data centers surges, not only storage capacity but also the expense of handling data is emerging as a key challenge.
FADU projected that as AI data centers expand, SSDs will also be segmented by use—complementing memory, high-performance data processing, and large-capacity storage. An SSD controller is a semiconductor that manages data reads and writes and error control between the server and NAND flash.
FADU believes next-generation controllers should deliver fast handling of small I/O operations, consistent data transfer latency, GPU-led I/O, and security features that protect data while maintaining transfer speeds.
FADU is developing sixth-generation (Gen6) controllers and subsequent seventh-generation (Gen7) products. At this event, it demonstrated sixth-generation SSD technology and introduced its product and technology portfolio for AI data centers.
FADU's strategy, in line with the "FADU 2.0" vision released at "FMS 2026" this month, is to expand its portfolio of solutions for AI data centers beyond single SSD controllers. To meet rising AI demand, it plans to revamp not only research and development but also organization-wide operations.
FADU CEO Nam I-hyeon said, "OCP Korea Tech Day is a major event joined by leading global big tech and semiconductor corporations and a great opportunity to prove FADU's competitiveness," adding, "Through the AI data center–focused portfolio unveiled today, we will strengthen our leadership in the market for AI data center–optimized SSDs and storage."