Market Chatter: SoftBank Introduces AI Company with NEC, Honda, Sony as Investors
SoftBank Group (TYO:9984) has launched a new company focused on developing artificial intelligence in Japan, with investments from NEC (TYO:6701), Honda Motor (TYO:7267), and six other firms, Nikkei Asia reported on Monday.The Japanese government is evaluating potential support for the initiative. The venture aims to create a foundational model for "physical AI" to enable autonomous control of robots and machinery through a collaborative public-private effort, the news daily said.Additional investors include Sony Group (TYO:6758), Mitsubishi UFJ Financial's (TYO:8306) MUFG Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (TYO:8316), Mizuho Bank (TYO:8411), Nippon Steel (TYO:5401), Kobe Steel (TYO:5406), and AI developer Preferred Networks will also assist in building the model.Softbank Group did not reply to MTNewswire queries at press time.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)
