SoftBank first to receive new Nvidia chips for supercomputer

An Nvidia Blackwell GPU is displayed at COMPUTEX in Taipei, Taiwan June 4, 2024. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

SoftBank’s Japanese telecoms unit will receive the first chips using Nvidia’s (NVDA.O), opens new tab latest Blackwell design for its supercomputer, the California-based chip designer said, as Masayoshi Son looks to ride the artificial intelligence boom.
SoftBank Corp (9434.T), opens new tab is also planning to use Grace Blackwell chips for a further supercomputer, said Nvidia, which held an AI event in Tokyo on Wednesday featuring SoftBank Group (9984.T), opens new tab CEO Son and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.

Son is pushing to expand his conglomerate’s exposure to the AI wave, taking a stake in OpenAI and acquiring chip startup Graphcore, after a turbulent few years that forced the ebullient billionaire to retrench.
The two businessmen held a “fireside chat” at the event, with Jensen recalling Son had once offered to lend him money to buy Nvidia as its value was not understood by the market.
“He wanted to lend me money to buy Nvidia. All of it. Now I regret not taking it,” Huang said, laughing.
Son said the offer was made a month after he acquired chip designer Arm . The Japanese billionare later built and sold down a stake in Nvidia and attempted the sale of Arm to Huang’s company which foundered on regulatory hurdles.
Nvidia, once best known as a designer of graphic chips for gaming, has gone on to become the world’s most valuable company powered by insatiable demand for its chips.
While Son has built a reputation as a far-sighted investor with relationships with leading entrepreneurs and bets on companies such as Alibaba (9988.HK), opens new tab, he has also made high profile slips such as backing office space sharing firm WeWork.
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