Japan Inc. Unites to Build 1T-Parameter 'Physical AI' Model
SoftBank leads nine Japanese corporate giants in launching a new AI company targeting a trillion-parameter foundation model by 2030.
SoftBank has assembled a coalition of nine major Japanese companies — including Sony, Honda, and NEC — to form a brand-new AI venture. The mission: build a one-trillion-parameter foundation model designed specifically for "physical AI" by 2030.
The initiative represents Japan's most ambitious coordinated push into large-scale AI development. Physical AI generally refers to models that can understand and interact with the real world — think robotics, autonomous systems, and industrial applications.
Six additional Japanese companies round out the nine-member consortium, though specific names beyond SoftBank, Sony, Honda, and NEC weren't detailed. The new entity is headquartered in Tokyo.
The trillion-parameter target is significant. For context, that's roughly on par with the largest models currently deployed by leading Western AI labs. Japan clearly doesn't want to sit this race out.
