Softbank Buys $676 million sharp plants for Openai collaboration in Japan
Softbank marches ahead of its ambitions to build key AI businesses in its home market in Japan, its own steam, and strategic partnerships with others like Openai. Above FridayThe tech company has confirmed that it will build LCD panels at the factory previously used by Sharp and convert them into artificial intelligence data centers.
Sharp Bank’s sales agreement with Sharp includes both the land and buildings of Sharp Sakai Plant in Osaka, and includes a price of 100 million yen ($676 million).
This was an early step needed for SoftBank, as data centers are the lynchpin of a massive wave of generation AI that wipes out the world of technology. A significant amount of data center capacity is required to train the model and provide and execute subsequent services.
When asked whether the site is part of a plan to commercialize the Openai model in Japan, a SoftBank spokesperson pointed out TechCrunch Previous announcement Regarding collaboration with Openai, we will be deploying advanced enterprise AI called “Cristal Intelligence” in Japan. When contacted for a response, Openai declined to comment on the news.
Openai It is reportedly We plan to bring the basic AI model to the Japanese market and develop the model at the Sakai plant using GPUs. SB Openai Japan, a joint venture between Softbank and Openai, trains models using client data from marketing and other activities. JVs sell customized AI agents to clients. According to a report by Nikkei.
The data center plan highlights SoftBank and Openai’s growing scope of collaboration.
Two high-tech companies announced Their joint venture in Japan Continued Openai collaborations with SoftBank, Oracle and other companies Japanese telephone company giants are also investing in Openai to build several AI data centers in the US. The lecture has been on for months, and the latest one is Softbank. It is reportedly It invested up to $25 billion in Openai at a valuation of nearly $300 billion. However, the funding has not yet been closed and has not been officially announced.
The SoftBank plant purchase takes place approximately 10 months after signing the MOU and will build a large AI data center in Sharp, which was previously used for LCD panel production.
SoftBank aims to begin operation in 2026. SoftBank expects the LCD Panel Factory to have enough capacity to operate the AI data center. It starts at about 150 megawatts, and ultimately increases to over 240 megawatts.
Sakachi’s facility will be SoftBank’s third facility. Already operating the data center Tokyo And there’s another one built in Hokkaido.