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SoftBank's Masayoshi Son Commits $100 Billion to U.S. AI Investment Amid Trump's $200B Suggestion and Plans for AI Chips by 2026

Dec 22, 2024, 04:00 PM

SoftBank's founder Masayoshi Son has announced a commitment to invest $100 billion in U.S. AI startups and infrastructure. This investment comes as a response to the growing demand for artificial intelligence technology and aims to bolster SoftBank's presence in the sector. During a recent engagement, Donald Trump, the newly elected U.S. President, encouraged Son to double this investment to $200 billion. Despite this ambitious plan, reports indicate that Son does not currently have the full $100 billion at his disposal. Additionally, Son has expressed a keen interest in developing competitive AI chips, with a target to have products ready for shipment by 2026. This move is seen as part of SoftBank's strategy to compete with tech giants like Nvidia, which currently leads in AI chip production. The context of this investment is underscored by Son's earlier decision to sell a 5% stake in Nvidia, which would have been valued at $160 billion today, highlighting the challenges he faces in navigating the tech landscape.