Topics
Latest
AI
Amazon
Image Credits:Carl Court / Staff / Getty Images / Getty Images
Apps
Biotech & Health
Climate
Image Credits:Carl Court / Staff / Getty Images / Getty Images
Cloud Computing
Commerce
Crypto
Enterprise
EVs
Fintech
Fundraising
widget
Gaming
Government & Policy
Hardware
layoff
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
Privacy
Robotics
Security
societal
quad
Startups
TikTok
transport
Venture
More from TechCrunch
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Podcasts
Videos
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
meet Us
SoftBank is marching ahead on its ambitions to make out a major AI operation in its home market of Japan , on its own steam and in strategic partnership with others like OpenAI . OnFriday , the tech company confirmed it would make up $ 676 million for a manufactory previously used by Sharp to build liquid crystal display board and convince it into an artificial intelligence datum centre .
SoftBank ’s leverage and sales event agreement with Sharp includes both the land and buildings of the Sharp Sakai Plant in Osaka , for 100 billion hankering ( $ 676 million ) .
This was a necessary former step for SoftBank since datum centers are a linchpin in the monolithic wafture of productive AI sweep the tech universe : solid data point center capability is needed both to train example and to supply and bunk subsequent services .
When asked if the site is part of its architectural plan to commercialise OpenAI ’s models in Japan , a SoftBank spokesperson channelize TechCrunch toits previous announcementregarding a collaboration with OpenAI to deploy an innovative enterprisingness AI call “ Cristal Intelligence ” in Japan . Contacted for a reply , OpenAI declined to remark on the newsworthiness .
OpenAIreportedlyintends to take its AI foundational models to the Japanese market , leveraging GPUs to develop model at the Sakai plant . SB OpenAI Japan , a joint speculation between SoftBank and OpenAI , will civilise role model using customer ’ information from merchandising and other activities . The JV will then sell customized AI agents to node , per a report by Nikkei .
The data centre design emphasize how SoftBank and OpenAI are branch out the scope of their quislingism .
The two technical school troupe unveiledtheir joint venture in JapanfollowingOpenAI ’s collaboration with SoftBank , Oracle , and other companiesto make several AI data centers in the U.S. The Japanese telco giant is also invest in OpenAI . dialogue have been going on for months , and the late is that SoftBankis reportedlyinvesting as much as $ 25 billion in OpenAI at a rating of nearly $ 300 billion . However , that fundraise has yet to close and has not been announced formally .
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
SoftBank ’s leverage of the plant life comes or so 10 months aftersigning an MOU to construct a large AI data centerat a plant Sharp previously used for LCD panel product .
SoftBank aims to begin operations in 2026 . SoftBank expect the LCD panel mill to have sufficient magnate capacity to operate the AI data center , ab initio at around 150 megawatt and finally increasing to over 240 megawatts .
The Sakai facility will be SoftBank ’s third data plaza . It already operates a data center inTokyoand another one is being build inHokkaido .
