In an era where technological advancements are rapidly reshaping industries, a strategic collaboration between several Japanese cloud service providers and NVIDIA aims to revolutionize multiple sectors in Japan through advanced AI infrastructure development. This groundbreaking collaboration brings together key companies such as SoftBank Corp., GMO Internet Group, Highreso, KDDI, Rutilea, and SAKURA Internet. It is backed by a program from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, emphasizing the nation’s commitment to driving innovation.
These partnerships universally focus on deploying NVIDIA’s state-of-the-art technologies, which include accelerated computing, networking, and software tools. The goal is to propel innovation in various sectors, including robotics, automotive, healthcare, telecommunications, and public services. Each participating company leverages NVIDIA’s resources to enhance their AI capabilities. Jensen Huang, the founder and CEO of NVIDIA, highlighted this as part of the "new industrial revolution powered by AI."
SoftBank Corp. is at the forefront of this initiative, setting up some of Japan’s most advanced AI supercomputers using NVIDIA Blackwell platforms. The highlight is the initial implementation of the NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD, which will support a range of research and industrial applications, including studies on Japanese-specific large language models.
Meanwhile, GMO Internet Group is introducing the GMO GPU Cloud powered by NVIDIA ##00 Tensor Core GPUs, alongside the NVIDIA Spectrum-X Ethernet platform and NVIDIA AI Enterprise software suite. This development is aimed at significantly boosting AI functionalities for Japanese businesses.
Highreso is launching an AI-dedicated data center that utilizes NVIDIA technology, introducing their GPUSOROBAN AI Supercomputer Cloud service. KDDI is focusing on enhancing generative AI development through the use of NVIDIA HGX systems and plans to establish a liquid-cooled data center featuring NVL72 platforms. Rutilea, along with its subsidiary AI Fukushima, is set to expand its capabilities with the deployment of over 1,000 NVIDIA GPUs, concentrating on large language model development across various industries to bolster regional economic growth.
SAKURA Internet intends to scale its Koukaryoku cloud services for generative AI, significantly increasing its GPU offerings. Among its notable clients is the National Institute of Informatics, which is engaged in developing large language models specific to Japan.
This collaborative effort marks a substantial leap forward in Japan’s AI infrastructure development, positioning the nation at the forefront of technological innovation. The partnerships underscore a focus on seamlessly integrating AI into traditional sectors, thereby enhancing capacity and efficiency to address future demands.
By partnering with NVIDIA, these Japanese cloud service providers are laying a robust foundation that is expected to redefine the industrial landscape in Japan. This move aligns with a broader trend of integrating AI across diverse fields to boost productivity, efficiency, and innovation. It demonstrates a strong consensus on the transformative potential of AI-driven solutions, capturing the essence of Japan’s ambition to emerge as a leader in the AI domain. The seamless synergy between technological progression and industrial applications epitomizes Japan’s dedication to fostering an environment where AI can thrive and drive substantial economic and societal advancements.