SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son’s Billion-Dollar Quest
SoftBank Group Corp. SFTBF founder, Masayoshi Son, is eyeing an impressive $100 billion for an audacious chip venture targeting the AI market. If successful, this daring endeavor could potentially disrupt the stronghold of tech giant Nvidia Corp. and proves Son’s unwavering commitment to technological innovation in the face of economic uncertainty.
The Grand Initiative
What Happened: Son has codenamed the ambitious project “Izanagi,” amidst SoftBank’s retrenchment on startup investments. The venture aims to fortify the chip design unit of Arm Holdings Plc. ARM, thereby propelling Son’s vision of an AI chip powerhouse, as reported by Bloomberg.
Anticipated to raise $30 billion internally, Son is scouting for the remaining $70 billion from investors in the Middle East, paving the way for one of the most substantial investments in the AI sector, eclipsing even Microsoft Corp.’s MSFT $13 billion splurge in OpenAI.
Implications of the Grand Pursuit
This strategic move saliently coincides with Sam Altman’s reported attempts to garner the approval of the Biden administration for his monumental $7 trillion chipmaking ambitions, a bid that highlights the fierce competition for dominance in the realm of AI chip manufacturing.
With Altman traversing the globe, engaging potential investors and partners in the US, Middle East, and Asia, the success of his project profoundly depends upon the nod from the U.S. government. Formerly engaged in negotiations with global investors, including SoftBank, Altman seeks support for an extensive network of semiconductor factories to address the mounting chip shortages for AI applications.
While Son and Altman have contemplated joining forces in semiconductor manufacturing, “Izanagi” currently functions autonomously from Altman’s ambitious pursuits, with Arm CEO Rene Haas offering guidance to Son, further embellishing the narrative.
The SoftBank founder’s deep-rooted enchantment with Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is unmistakable, as he spearheads Project Izanagi, unravelling a plot that may well alter the course of AI history.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
