SoftBank Group to Build Japan's Most Powerful AI Supercomputer
Seoul/Toronto/New Delhi - SoftBank Group Corp., the conglomerate's investment arm, will be the first company to build a supercomputer utilizing Nvidia Corp.'s new Blackwell design. This development underscores the Japanese company's ambitions to catch up on Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.
SoftBank's telecom unit plans to construct Japan's most powerful AI supercomputer in collaboration with Nvidia Corporation, with the system to be based on the DGX B200 product that integrates computer processors and AI accelerator chips.
The announcement has resulted in a 1.5% rise in shares of SoftBank Corp., Japan's No. 3 wireless carrier, but fell as much as 3.3% at the news. Nvidia Corporation's chips have become an essential component for top tech companies looking to develop and run AI models.
Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang initially announced the new Blackwell lineup earlier this year but production constraints slowed the rollout. The company aims to increase chip supply once manufacturing ramps up, with Huang expressing eagerness for adoption among customers.
In Tokyo, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang had a meeting with SoftBank Group chairman Masayoshi Son, who invested in Nvidia until 2019 and owns around $178 billion worth of shares today. Although the specifics were not discussed, this meeting signifies an alliance aimed at bolstering AI capabilities.
Nvidia has been attending events across India and Japan to promote its role in fostering a global AI infrastructure that encourages nations to build their own networks using AI systems. By leveraging Nvidia's hardware, local telecom units can better tailor services such as remote robotics or autonomous vehicle support.
Under this initiative, SoftBank Group operates the country's third-largest wireless carrier, collaborating with partners Fujitsu Ltd and International Business Machines Corp.'s Red Hat for network testing. The new service - dubbed AI-RAN (AI Radio Access Network) will enhance mobile data transmission capabilities with minimal power consumption.
When asked by Jensen Huang about Japan's recent willingness to adopt cutting-edge technology without government interference, Masayoshi Son stated that "this is the reset and catch-up moment" where Japan can make significant strides in this revolution.