CHANGE JAPAN:
AI services powered by Nvidia over cellular networks “will give rise to an artificial intelligence grid that extends across Japan,” said Nvidia’s Jensen Huang.

Softbank Group Corp would be the first to build a supercomputer with chips using Nvidia Corp’s new Blackwell design, a demonstration of the Japanese company’s ambitions to catch up in artificial intelligence (AI).

The group’s telecommunications unit, Softbank Corp, plans to build Japan’s most powerful AI supercomputer to support local services, it said.

This computer would be based on Nvidia’s DGX B200 product, which combines computer processors with so-called AI accelerator chips.

Photo: Bloomberg

A follow-up effort will feature Grace Blackwell, a more advanced version, the company said.

The announcement indicates that the Softbank group, which held 4.9% of Nvidia until the beginning of 2019, has secured a favorable position for AI chips.

Softbank Group founder Masayoshi Son said he was preparing to “break through the barriers” in AI betting.

The company announced a return to profitability on Tuesday thanks to rising technology valuations.

Son joined Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) on stage in Tokyo yesterday at Nvidia’s AI Summit.

When reminded of Softbank Group’s previous stake in Nvidia – now reportedly worth around $178 billion – Son grimaced and laughed, then enveloped Huang in a bear hug.

Nvidia has traveled the world hosting such events, promoting what it calls the new industrial revolution. The events in India and now Japan aim to expand the deployment of AI systems to domestic efforts and reduce Nvidia’s dependence on a few large U.S. customers.

In addition to the new computer and plans to install a second one, Softbank Group’s telecommunications unit would also use Nvidia hardware to provide AI services over cellular networks. Traditional hardware, based on custom chips designed to maximize mobile data traffic, is not optimal for new AI services.

“This will result in an AI network that extends across Japan,” Huang said, adding that it would transform the communications network into an AI network.

New AI radio access networks would be better suited to remote robotics, supporting autonomous vehicles and powering other services, Huang said.

They would also require less electricity, he added.

The telecommunications unit would begin testing the network with partners Fujitsu Ltd and International Business Machines Corp.’s Red Hat Inc.

“We’re going to buy a lot of your chips,” Son told Huang.

Japan is on the cusp of change, said Son, who has often criticized the country’s government and businesses for being slow to adopt new technologies.

This time, the Japanese government is not opposed to the development of AI and robotics, he said.

The Japanese government has allocated $US4 trillion ($26 billion) to boost its domestic chip production capacity. That includes an ambitious plan behind Rapidus Corp to build an advanced foundry from scratch to compete with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (台積電), which makes Nvidia chips. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba also pledged more than $65 billion in new support for the nation’s semiconductor and AI sectors.

“But they should encourage more,” Son told Huang. “As you say, this is the reset, this is the catch-up time for this revolution. We can’t miss this time.