SoftBank founder eyes $100b raise for AI chip venture

Photo credit: SoftBank

Masayoshi Son, founder of Japan-based SoftBank Group, is considering raising US$100 billion for an AI chip venture that could rival US-based Nvidia, sources told Bloomberg.

While SoftBank itself may inject US$30 billion, the rest of the funding could be secured from interested parties in the Middle East.

The project – code-named Izanagi – may signal a shift in strategy for Son, moving from startup investments.

Additionally, the new venture could complement the work of Arm Holdings, the British chip design entity SoftBank previously acquired. Son is said to be teaming up with Rene Haas, CEO of Arm, for Izanagi.

SoftBank has previously teamed up with Nvidia – a rival to Arm – to develop a platform for generative AI and 5G/6G apps.

Nevertheless, if the raise is successful, this would mark one of the largest investments in the AI sector. It is set to outdo recent injections like Microsoft’s US$10 billion bet on OpenAI.

Regardless of Izanagi’s initial stage, Son is positive about the arrival of artificial general intelligence within the next 10 years.

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