Samsung Electronics saw its market value surge past the $1 trillion mark for the first time on Wednesday, riding a powerful wave of demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips.The rally comes as the global race to build AI infrastructure accelerates, boosting chipmakers that supply high-performance memory and processors.Samsung has emerged as a key player in the AI supply chain, alongside domestic rival SK hynix, as tech firms worldwide scramble for advanced chips.The company’s shares jumped nearly 12% in morning trade, helping push its valuation beyond the $1 trillion milestone. Shares of SK hynix also rose about 10%.The rally in chip stocks lifted South Korea’s benchmark Kospi, which surged more than 5% and crossed the 7,000 mark for the first time at the opening bell.Samsung’s stock has skyrocketed nearly 300% over the past year, reflecting the scale of the ongoing AI-driven growth cycle.The milestone follows a blockbuster earnings report. Samsung recently posted record first-quarter results, with operating profit soaring 750% year-on-year to 57.2 trillion won ($39.3 billion).The company attributed the surge to “AI technology innovations and proactive market response”, adding that it expects “strong memory demand to continue” into the second quarter as AI infrastructure expansion gathers pace.According to Bloomberg News, Samsung is only the second Asian firm after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company to cross the $1 trillion market capitalisation mark.The milestone also aligns with South Korea’s broader push to position itself among the world’s top three AI powers, alongside the United States and China.(With AFP inputs)