SoftBank, NEC, Honda, Sony Jointly Establish Japan AI Foundation Model Development Company

SoftBank, NEC, Honda, Sony Form Joint Venture for Japanese AI Foundation Models

SoftBank, NEC, Honda, and Sony Group have formed a new joint venture focused on AI development. The company, named "Japan AI Foundation Model Development," plans to bring together about 100 AI developers. The president will be a SoftBank executive.

Beyond the four lead companies, other investors include Nippon Steel, Kobe Steel, Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Bank, Mizuho Bank, and AI developer Preferred Networks. The venture will tap Japanese government support to build domestic AI foundation models and offer AI services to Japanese companies. SoftBank and NEC will handle development, while Honda will apply the results to autonomous driving. The AI will be made widely available to Japanese companies beyond the investors, with future expansion into robot-control AI.