SoftBank has announced a significant expansion of its AI infrastructure by deploying the largest Nvidia DGX SuperPOD globally, an installation comprising over 4,000 Nvidia Blackwell GPUs. This enhancement brings SoftBank’s total AI capacity to more than 10,000 GPUs, yielding a computing power of 13.7 exaflops. This upgrade, achieved through Nvidia’s Quantum-2 InfiniBand networking and AI Enterprise software, underscores SoftBank’s dedication to advancing AI capabilities domestically, especially for large language model (LLM) development tailored for Japanese.
The platform, overseen by SB Intuitions, SoftBank’s subsidiary, will bolster the creation of advanced AI models. Notably, they plan to introduce the Sarashina mini model, a 70-billion-parameter LLM, by March 2026. This reflects a strategic move following their 460-billion parameter LLM developed last year. Such efforts aim to elevate generative AI innovation.
The initiative began in 2023, initially incorporating Nvidia Ampere GPUs, and later transitioned to Hopper-based systems in 2024. The recent Blackwell integration marks the pinnacle of their AI infrastructure development. Importantly, Japan’s METI has certified this platform under the national economic security framework. This designation includes SoftBank’s Cloud Program, ensuring enterprise and research sectors in Japan benefit from enhanced AI capabilities.
Masayoshi Son, SoftBank’s CEO, expressed ambitions to lead the AI landscape, striving for dominance in the “artificial super intelligence” realm within a decade. He emphasized a winner-takes-all approach, analogous to the industrial dominance of Microsoft, Amazon, and Google in their respective sectors. Son articulated at the company’s annual meeting their vision of organizing the industry as it transitions to superintelligent AI.
Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) is a theoretical concept where AI exceeds human cognitive capabilities. At its core, ASI involves sophisticated cognitive processes unmatched by human intellect. In pursuit of this goal, SoftBank is aligning strategically with OpenAI and Arm, guiding their path toward ASI.
Notably, SoftBank’s Stargate project, in collaboration with OpenAI, Arm, Oracle, Microsoft, and technology investor MGX, aims to create the most extensive AI infrastructure. It represents a substantial investment estimated at $500 billion, with $100 billion dedicated to initial phases.
