Japanese Firms Collaborate on Domestic AI Model Development

SoftBank, NEC, Honda, and Sony Group have established a new company named 'Japan AI Foundation Model Development' to create domestic AI foundational models for Japanese businesses. According to Odaily, a SoftBank executive will lead the company, with Nippon Steel, Kobe Steel, Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Bank, and Mizuho Bank contributing financially. SoftBank and NEC will handle development, while Honda plans to apply the results to autonomous driving, with Preferred Networks also participating. The company intends to apply for a public call from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, which, if selected, could provide support amounting to 1 trillion yen over five years starting in 2026.