SoftBank Investing $960 Million in Computing Power Innovation

SoftBank is investing $960 million to expand its computing power with the goal of developing world-leading generative AI models by 2025. The Japanese telecommunications company is buying Nvidia GPUs to complete a large language model (LLM) with 390 billion parameters this year, and plans to build a state-of-the-art model with over a trillion parameters next year. This investment will make SoftBank the leader in processing power in Japan, with access available to other companies. In addition, SoftBank is building one of Japan's largest AI data centers in Hokkaido to provide new services and ensure data sovereignty as required by the government.

Key Takeaways

• SoftBank is investing $960 million into expanding its computing power by 2025 to develop top generative AI models.
• The company plans to complete a large language model with 390 billion parameters this year and a trillion-parameter model next year.
• SoftBank will lead in processing power in Japan and is building one of Japan's largest AI data centers.
• The investment aims to provide new services and ensure data sovereignty as mandated by the government.
• OpenAI recently released a Japanese language optimized version of GPT-4.

Analysis

SoftBank's $960 million investment to enhance computing power and develop world-leading generative AI models by 2025 will have significant implications. The acquisition of Nvidia GPUs to build large language models with billions of parameters signifies a strategic move to establish dominance in processing power in Japan. This will impact other companies seeking access to such capabilities. In the short term, SoftBank's investment will position it as a key player in AI development, while in the long term, it could lead to innovations in AI-driven services. Additionally, the construction of a major AI data center in Hokkaido aligns with government requirements for data sovereignty, reflecting SoftBank's commitment to regulatory compliance and future-proofing its operations. This development may also put pressure on competitors to match or surpass SoftBank's AI capabilities.

Did You Know?

• SoftBank is investing $960 million into expanding its computing power by 2025 to develop top generative AI models.
• The company plans to complete a large language model with 390 billion parameters this year and a trillion-parameter model next year.
• SoftBank will lead in processing power in Japan and is building one of Japan's largest AI data centers.