SoftBank Group has announced a plan to invest 80 trillion yen in AI data centers in Ohio, USA, as part of a larger $550 billion investment commitment to the US.
SoftBank Group Chairman Masayoshi Son announced plans to establish a large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) data center in Ohio, USA, with a significant initial investment of $500 billion (approximately 80 trillion yen), which includes external funding. This initiative is a part of Japan's commitment to invest a total of $550 billion in the US, which was established through a US-Japan tariff agreement. The announcement took place during the groundbreaking ceremony for a gas-fired power plant in Ohio, attended by Son and other dignitaries such as US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
According to the US Department of Energy, SoftBank Group and other companies will invest approximately $33.3 billion (5.3 trillion yen) to develop around 10 gigawatts of generating capacity to supply power to the rapidly growing AI infrastructure. Besides SoftBank, the project has attracted the interest of various Japanese and American financial institutions and manufacturers, including Hitachi and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, indicating a robust collaboration between the two countries in technological advancements and infrastructure projects.
During the ceremony, Son stated that the power plant is likely to become the world's largest in terms of generating capacity at a single location. He also highlighted that over the next two decades, the company plans to invest a total of $15 trillion in AI data centers. This ambitious investment underscores the increasing importance and demand for AI-related technologies and infrastructure, as well as SoftBank's commitment to leading in this transformative industry sector.
