NVIDIA Embraces SoftBank, Signaling Japan's AI Revival [AK Radio]

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NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and SoftBank Chairman Masayoshi Son had a historic meeting on the 13th at the 'NVIDIA AI Summit' held in Tokyo. The encounter between these two giants of the IT industry is expected to be a turning point signaling the revival of Japan's AI industry, going beyond a simple conversation between business leaders. In particular, this meeting presented a blueprint to lead new innovations by combining NVIDIA's cutting-edge AI technology with Japan's manufacturing strengths.

At the event, NVIDIA announced that it would supply SoftBank for the first time with the 'DGX SuperPod,' an AI supercomputer using the latest Blackwell GPUs. The collaboration between NVIDIA and SoftBank is seen as a symbolic decision demonstrating NVIDIA's special trust and expectations for the Japanese market.

This cooperation between the two companies is no coincidence. NVIDIA and SoftBank have built a deep trust relationship over the past 6-7 years. Notably, NVIDIA's attempt to acquire the semiconductor design company ARM, previously owned by SoftBank, although ultimately blocked by regulatory authorities in various countries, is a representative example of the strong relationship between the two companies. While this failure left regrets on both sides, NVIDIA has grown into a company with the world's highest corporate value, and SoftBank also achieved significant success through ARM's independent listing.

The full support of the Japanese government also played a role behind this cooperation. Prime Minister Kishida announced a semiconductor industry support package worth 90 trillion won just before the summit. In response, Jensen Huang expressed trust in Japan's emerging foundry company Rapidus and even hinted at the possibility of outsourcing the production of NVIDIA's GPUs. This is regarded not as mere lip service but as a statement implying real cooperation potential.

What is particularly noteworthy is Japan's potential. Japan possesses over 100 years of accumulated basic science capabilities and world-class mechatronics technology. When combined with NVIDIA's latest AI technology, especially in physical AI, i.e., robotics, innovative results are expected. Jensen Huang repeatedly mentioned Japan's robotics technology at the summit and expressed great expectations for cooperation with Japan in the field of physical AI.

SoftBank plans to revolutionize communication infrastructure through the supercomputer it is introducing. Currently, Japan's communication infrastructure is somewhat behind that of Korea. However, by integrating the latest AI technology, it is anticipated that services of an entirely new level can be provided.

Another reason this cooperation is attracting attention is the possibility of a revival of Japan's semiconductor industry. Rapidus has secured IBM's advanced process technology and aims to operate a 2-nanometer process by 2027. Combined with Japan's strengths in semiconductor materials and components industries, there is ample potential for meaningful achievements. Moreover, with TSMC establishing a factory in Japan, the Japanese semiconductor ecosystem is gradually strengthening.

Experts predict that this cooperation will pose a new challenge to Korea's IT industry. In particular, there are calls for a reassessment of Korea's strategy to respond to the AI era. Currently, domestic companies face difficulties purchasing expensive AI semiconductors, and government support is limited. While overseas countries actively introduce GPU leasing and new financial support methods, Korea lacks such innovative attempts.

Furthermore, if Japan's basic science capabilities combine with AI, unexpected innovations may occur. Japan has a solid foundation in basic science, having produced numerous Nobel laureates. With the addition of AI technology, groundbreaking achievements could emerge in various fields such as new drug development and the discovery of new materials.

In this context, Korea's response strategy also seems to require change. Until now, Korea has pursued a strategy focused on developing its own AI semiconductors. However, in the AI era, the pace of technological advancement is so rapid that securing competitiveness through in-house development alone may be difficult. There is a growing voice calling for strengthening strategic cooperation with global companies and bold investment to expand AI infrastructure.

The cooperation between NVIDIA and SoftBank is expected to be more than a simple business transaction; it is likely to be a signal announcing the revival of Japan's AI industry. Combined with the Japanese government's full support and basic science capabilities, Japan has the potential to emerge as a new powerhouse in the AI era. For Korea, it is a critical moment to seriously consider how to respond to these changes.

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