SoftBank First to Receive Nvidia’s New AI Chips for Supercomputer Development

TOKYO – SoftBank’s Japanese telecom unit will be the first to receive Nvidia’s latest Blackwell chips, designed to power supercomputers, as the Japanese conglomerate positions itself at the forefront of the AI boom. Nvidia announced the partnership at an AI-focused event in Tokyo, where SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang discussed their shared vision for advancing AI technology.

The chips, part of Nvidia’s new Blackwell architecture, will support SoftBank Corp’s supercomputer development, with plans to integrate the Grace Blackwell chips into future systems. This move aligns with Son’s strategy to deepen SoftBank’s involvement in AI, following recent investments in OpenAI and the acquisition of chip startup Graphcore.

During a fireside chat at the event, Huang recounted how Son once offered him financial support to purchase Nvidia when the company’s potential was underappreciated. “He wanted to lend me money to buy Nvidia—all of it. Now I regret not taking it,” Huang joked. Son has previously held a stake in Nvidia and attempted to sell SoftBank-owned chip designer Arm to the company, though the sale was blocked by regulators.

Once primarily focused on gaming graphics chips, Nvidia has risen to global prominence due to the unprecedented demand for AI-focused semiconductors. Meanwhile, Son, known for his far-reaching investment strategies, has cultivated influential relationships in the tech world, betting on companies like Alibaba. However, his investments haven’t been without setbacks, with high-profile losses such as WeWork tempering his reputation.