The world is on the brink of another technological revolution, and Japan is set to play a significant role. At NVIDIA’s AI Summit held in Japan, NVIDIA’s founder and CEO, Jensen Huang, alongside SoftBank’s Chairman and CEO, Masayoshi Son, laid out an ambitious vision for Japan’s participation in the evolving artificial intelligence (AI) landscape.
During the summit in Tokyo, Jensen Huang emphasized the crucial role of AI infrastructure in driving global change. He introduced two main facets of AI: digital AI, which encompasses AI agents, and physical AI, which involves robotics. Japan, according to Huang, is uniquely positioned to innovate in both areas by leveraging its distinctive language, culture, and extensive data resources.
Huang articulated the need for every industry, company, and nation to participate in a new industrial revolution, with AI acting as the primary catalyst. He highlighted Japan’s unparalleled potential to lead in this AI-driven economy, crediting the country’s rich history of innovation and engineering prowess. “I can’t imagine a better country to lead the robotics AI revolution than Japan,” Huang stated. He praised Japan’s creation of some of the world’s finest robots, which have become beloved icons worldwide.
The summit underscored the transformative potential of advanced digital agents, or agentic AI. These sophisticated AI systems can understand, reason, plan, and execute tasks, effectively enhancing productivity across various sectors. Huang noted that these agents could handle complex, multi-step processes, doing “50% of the work for 100% of the people,” thereby significantly boosting human productivity. By converting data into actionable insights, agentic AI empowers companies to optimize their operations without replacing human roles.
### SoftBank and NVIDIA’s Ambitious AI Supercomputer Project
One of the summit’s key announcements was the collaboration between NVIDIA and SoftBank to build Japan’s most powerful AI supercomputer. This initiative leverages NVIDIA’s Blackwell platform to create a computing powerhouse, SoftBank’s DGX SuperPOD, aimed at supporting sovereign AI initiatives, including large language models tailored for Japan.
Masayoshi Son expressed his vision for the project, highlighting the importance of providing this platform to researchers, students, and startups. “With your support, we are creating the largest AI data center here in Japan,” Son said. He emphasized the need to make advanced computing resources more accessible to foster innovation and development.
Beyond the supercomputer project, SoftBank has successfully conducted a pilot of the world’s first combined AI and 5G network, known as AI-RAN (radio access network). This groundbreaking network simultaneously supports AI and 5G workloads, unlocking new revenue opportunities for telecom providers. Son remarked on the potential of this network, describing it as a “big neural brain” for Japan’s infrastructure intelligence.
### Accelerated Computing and Japan’s AI Infrastructure
Huang also highlighted the synergy between AI and robotics, pointing out how advancements in AI have opened new horizons for robotics across industries. As AI enables machines to learn, adapt, and perform intricate tasks autonomously, the field of robotics is evolving beyond traditional programming methods.
“Japan is uniquely equipped to capitalize on the latest breakthroughs in AI and combine them with its world-class expertise in mechatronics,” Huang stated. He noted that no other country possesses Japan’s level of skill in mechatronics, presenting an extraordinary opportunity for innovation.
NVIDIA is working to establish a national AI infrastructure network through partnerships with Japanese cloud leaders like GMO Internet Group and SAKURA internet. Supported by the Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, this infrastructure aims to bolster sectors such as healthcare, automotive, and robotics by providing cutting-edge AI resources to companies and research institutions throughout Japan. Huang emphasized the significance of this development, stating, “This is the beginning of a new era… we can’t miss this time.”
In conclusion, the AI Summit in Japan highlighted the country’s strategic position in the global AI revolution. With its history of innovation, technological expertise, and cultural uniqueness, Japan is set to lead in both digital and physical AI realms. The collaboration between NVIDIA and SoftBank on building Japan’s largest AI supercomputer marks a significant step forward in realizing this vision. The initiatives presented at the summit underscore the transformative potential of AI and the crucial role infrastructure plays in harnessing its capabilities. As Japan embarks on this journey, it stands at the forefront of a new industrial era, poised to make significant contributions to the global AI landscape.
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