The first batch of NVIDIA's new chips "falls" to SoftBank, leading the world's first AI and 5G network together

According to the Zhitong Finance APP, earlier on Wednesday, NVIDIA (NVDA.US) announced a series of collaborations with SoftBank at the NVIDIA AI Summit held in Tokyo, aimed at accelerating Japan's sovereign AI program, further consolidating its global technological leadership, and unlocking billions of dollars in AI revenue opportunities for global telecom providers. It is reported that SoftBank Group will become NVIDIA's first supercomputer customer based on the chip manufacturer's new Blackwell design, and the two companies also stated that they have trialed the world's first AI and 5G telecom network.

NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang stated that SoftBank is the first company to obtain its new Blackwell chip design, which the company is integrating into the AI supercomputer being developed to create its own generative AI models.

It is reported that SoftBank's telecom division plans to build Japan's most powerful AI supercomputer to support a wide range of local services. This computer will be based on NVIDIA's DGX B200 product, which combines computer processors with so-called AI accelerator chips. A more advanced version, Grace Blackwell, will be launched later.

The two companies also stated that they have trialed the world's first AI and 5G telecom network, which can run AI and 5G workloads simultaneously, a process known as AI Radio Access Network (AI-RAN). Jensen Huang stated that the new AI-RAN will be more suitable for remote robotics, autonomous vehicle support, and powering other services, while consuming less power.

The telecom subsidiary will use NVIDIA's equipment to provide AI services on cellular networks. The custom chips are designed to maximize mobile data traffic, while traditional hardware based on these chips is not suitable for the new AI services. Jensen Huang stated that this will "bring an AI grid across Japan."

This move will meet Japan's demand for AI, as the country has been eager to catch up in the field of artificial intelligence.

NVIDIA's chips have become valuable commodities for the world's largest technology companies, which use these components to develop and run AI models. This process requires software to be bombarded with massive amounts of data, which is something accelerator chips are particularly good at handling.

It is worth mentioning that this announcement indicates that SoftBank has secured a favorable position for NVIDIA chips. Earlier this year, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang announced the new Blackwell series, but production obstacles delayed the launch. Although he stated that supply would be ample once production increased, customers have been eager to receive the first batch of new chips.

Jensen Huang spoke at the AI summit held in Tokyo on Wednesday. The American company has been hosting such events globally to promote its new industrial revolution. Events held in India and Japan aim to expand the deployment of AI systems to nation-based efforts and reduce NVIDIA's reliance on a few large American customers.

It is reported that this telecom subsidiary operates Japan's third-largest wireless carrier and will begin testing this network with partners Fujitsu Ltd. and IBM's Red Hat