NVIDIA and SoftBank to Build Japan's Largest AI Factory and Supercomputer with Blackwell Chips

Nov 13, 2024, 03:52 AM

NVIDIA and SoftBank have announced a partnership to build Japan's largest AI factory and supercomputer. SoftBank will be the first customer to utilize NVIDIA's new Blackwell chips for this project. The supercomputer, based on NVIDIA's DGX B200 platform, aims to meet the growing demand for artificial intelligence in Japan. The initiative includes plans for a future upgrade featuring the advanced Grace Blackwell platform. This collaboration is part of a broader effort to establish a nationwide AI grid, turning SoftBank's 200,000 base stations into mini data centers. Additionally, the companies will pilot the world's first AI and 5G telecom network. The project is set to launch in early 2025 and will support sovereign AI initiatives and large-scale AI infrastructure in Japan.