In a significant move for the global AI landscape, SoftBank Group has become the first company to purchase Nvidia’s highly anticipated Blackwell chips, the companies announced on Wednesday.
These advanced chips will power a supercomputer in Japan that SoftBank is building to spearhead the country’s artificial intelligence (AI) efforts. The project, set to launch in early 2025, aims to create Japan’s largest AI supercomputer, designed to boost the nation’s AI capabilities and innovation.
Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, emphasized the magnitude of the collaboration during the company’s AI summit in Tokyo, where he shared the vision of building “Japan’s largest AI factory” with SoftBank. The supercomputer, fueled by Blackwell-powered systems, will be instrumental in the development of generative AI applications, which SoftBank plans to share with research institutions and businesses across the country.
The partnership also underscores Japan’s ambition to reassert itself as a global tech and innovation hub, as it faces challenges like an aging population and labor shortages. By leveraging AI technologies, Japan aims to address these issues while advancing its telecommunications, robotics, and healthcare industries.
The project is part of SoftBank’s broader strategy to lead AI innovation, capitalizing on the increasing demand for Nvidia’s chips. With businesses and nations scrambling to secure access to Nvidia’s cutting-edge hardware, SoftBank’s early investment in the Blackwell chips positions it at the forefront of this technological revolution.
Huang described the collaboration as vital for SoftBank’s expansion of AI services, noting that the supercomputer would help accelerate AI adoption within Japan. He also revealed that SoftBank intends to use Nvidia’s AI technologies to create an AI marketplace and offer AI services on 5G networks, generating new opportunities in sectors like telecommunications.
SoftBank, which has long been a significant player in global tech investment, has already made substantial bets on AI, including in OpenAI. Masayoshi Son, SoftBank’s billionaire founder, has been particularly keen to push Japan into the AI era, and this supercomputer project represents a key step in that mission.
The Blackwell-powered supercomputer will be constructed using Nvidia’s DGX SuperPOD system, a platform designed for handling complex AI workloads. Once operational, it will be the most powerful supercomputer in Japan, capable of supporting AI research, generative AI applications, and large language models. Additionally, SoftBank plans to integrate Nvidia’s Grace Blackwell platform into its next-generation supercomputer to enhance its compute-intensive capabilities.
Nvidia and SoftBank also revealed a breakthrough development in AI-powered telecommunications. Using Nvidia’s AI Aerial platform, SoftBank has piloted the world’s first AI-enhanced 5G network, which allows telecom providers to run AI and 5G workloads simultaneously. This innovation could unlock significant revenue opportunities for the telecommunications industry, enabling operators to monetize unused network capacity for AI-driven services.
The collaboration between SoftBank and Nvidia signals a broader commitment to AI as a catalyst for Japan’s economic transformation. Junichi Miyakawa, CEO of SoftBank, highlighted that the new AI infrastructure would accelerate the adoption of AI across Japan’s industries. By integrating AI with 5G and creating localized AI services, SoftBank is positioning itself to play a pivotal role in Japan’s AI-driven future.
“We will accelerate innovation across Japan and throughout the world… With our powerful AI infrastructure, we are leading the charge to transform mobile networks into AI revenue-generating assets,” said Miyakawa.
The announcement is not only a major milestone for SoftBank but also for Nvidia, whose chips have become a key enabler for businesses worldwide looking to build AI capabilities. As competition for AI infrastructure heats up globally, this partnership places Japan and SoftBank at the center of the ongoing AI revolution, with the potential to reshape industries and drive new business models in the years to come.
As the project progresses, SoftBank plans to extend its AI ambitions with additional investments in AI supercomputing and telecommunications. Both companies are set to make a profound impact on the global tech landscape, driving the next era of innovation and growth in the AI sector.
In a moment of shared excitement at the summit, Jensen Huang remarked that SoftBank’s founder, Masayoshi Son, had played a crucial role in Nvidia’s success. He expressed gratitude for SoftBank’s long-term support, which has helped Nvidia reach its current heights as a leader in AI technology.
The Business Insider and NVIDIA contributed to this report.
