Japan's AI National Team Officially Assembles! SoftBank, Sony, Honda Join Forces to Invest Trillions of Yen in Developing Domestic Large Models

According to reports, a new company named "Japan AI Foundation Model Development" has been officially established, led by Japanese industry giants such as Sony, Honda, and NEC. This marks the formation of Japan's strongest "national team" in the AI field.

Core Background: Government Endorsement and Trillion-Yen Support

The establishment of this new company is not just a commercial move but an important part of Japan's national strategy:

Official Support: The company will participate in the domestic AI development project of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) of Japan.
Heavy Investment: After being selected, it is expected to receive government financial support of up to 1 trillion yen (about 6.5 billion US dollars) over the next five years.
Development Team: It plans to gather around 100 top AI developers, with a SoftBank executive serving as the president.

Strategic Mission: From "Basic Models" to "Robot Control"

The establishment of the new company aims to break the dependence on overseas AI technology and build a complete local ecosystem:

Domestic Production: Utilizing government support to develop a Japanese AI basic model with independent intellectual property rights.
Ecosystem Openness: The AI results developed will be open to all Japanese companies, reducing the intelligence threshold for local businesses.
Cross-industry Integration: In addition to text and language processing, it will also enter the field of robot control AI, attempting to transfer Japan's traditional hardware advantages into the AI era.
Support from Startups: The well-known Japanese AI startup Preferred Networks is also involved in the relevant development work.

Industry Perspective: Japanese Giants' Sense of Crisis and Counterattack

For a long time, Japan has been in a trailing position in the field of generative AI. The recent collaboration between SoftBank and Sony and other giants sends a strong signal:

Resource Integration: SoftBank's computing power foundation, Sony's content and sensor technology, and Honda's mobile machinery genes together form the moat for domestic AI.
Financial Support: Several major Japanese companies and financial institutions have also participated in funding, ensuring the continuity of R&D funds.

Conclusion: A New Variable in the AI Race Between China, Japan, and the US

When the Japan AI Foundation Model Development Company enters the market with trillions of subsidies, the global AI competition landscape is once again shifting. Whether this "national team" can leverage Japan's deep industrial and consumer electronics experience to achieve a leap forward will be the focus of the global tech community in the coming five years.

SoftBank and Other Giants Establish a New Company, Planning to Develop an AI Foundation Model in Japan

Japanese firms including SoftBank, NEC, Honda, and Sony have formed an AI foundation model company to pool resources, counter U.S.-China dominance, and gain government support for technological catch-up. Led by a SoftBank executive, it aims to boost Japan's AI competitiveness with around 100 developers.....

SoftBank Group Made Significant Gains by Investing in OpenAI, Earnings Reached 18.2 Billion Dollars in the First Three Quarters

According to SoftBank Group's financial report, its investment in OpenAI generated approximately 18.2 billion dollars in earnings from April to December 2025, mainly due to its previous purchase of about 11% shares for over 30 billion dollars. Although the gains are remarkable, SoftBank is considering adding up to 30 billion dollars in investment, which may cause its leverage ratio to reach the warning line of 35%, drawing attention to its aggressive expansion.

Valuation Surges to $14 Billion! Skild AI Secures Massive Investment from SoftBank and NVIDIA to Develop a Universal Robot Brain

Skild AI completes its Series C funding round of $1.4 billion, with a valuation reaching $14 billion, led by SoftBank, with additional investments from NVIDIA, Amazon, and others. The company is dedicated to developing the universal robot foundation model 'Skild Brain,' aiming to enable robots to adapt to various tasks and promote the widespread application of artificial intelligence in the field of robotics.

SoftBank Makes Major Additional Investment in OpenAI, Increasing Its Stake to 11%

SoftBank Group completed an additional $2.25 billion investment in OpenAI on December 26th, fulfilling its investment commitment from March, increasing its stake to approximately 11%. This move strengthens the cooperation between the two parties and reinforces OpenAI's market position in the field of artificial intelligence.