The Japanese technology conglomerate SoftBank Group is making notable advances in the competitive landscape of artificial intelligence infrastructure. Recent strategic initiatives, including a new semiconductor partnership and plans for a substantial financial investment, have garnered positive attention from investors.
A key element of SoftBank’s strategy is a collaboration between its subsidiary SAIMEMORY and Intel Corp. to develop new memory technology tailored for AI applications. This partnership aims to introduce a solution named “Z-Angle Memory” (ZAM), designed to meet the rigorous data processing demands of advanced AI technologies.
In addition to hardware developments, SoftBank is reportedly considering a significant increase in its financial commitment to the AI sector, specifically targeting OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. Market sources indicate that SoftBank may invest up to $30 billion in OpenAI, potentially valuing the firm at approximately $830 billion and reflecting the fierce competition within the generative AI arena.
The collaboration with Intel is a cornerstone of SoftBank’s strategy. The ZAM technology promises enhanced memory capacity and bandwidth while maintaining lower power consumption compared to existing solutions. This innovation is grounded in Intel’s “Next Generation DRAM Bonding” (NGDB) process, with foundational research originating from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Memory Technology program. The development roadmap for ZAM spans several years, with initial work slated to commence in the first quarter of 2026. Prototype production is targeted for the fiscal year ending March 2028, with commercial availability expected around 2029 or 2030. The investment required to reach the prototype phase is estimated at approximately 3 billion yen (around $20 million).
Investor attention is also focused on Arm Holdings, the chip design company owned by SoftBank. Arm is scheduled to release its third-quarter fiscal results for 2026 on February 4. Market observers will closely monitor how Arm’s AI-centric initiatives contribute to revenue, particularly in light of ongoing shifts within the global smartphone market.
The cumulative impact of these strategic announcements has resonated positively with investors, evidenced by a surge in Intel’s stock during U.S. trading on February 3 following news of the partnership. The market’s optimism reflects broader trends in the tech industry, where AI technologies are increasingly viewed as core to the next wave of innovation and growth.
As SoftBank continues to strengthen its foothold in the AI sector, the implications of these investments and partnerships extend beyond immediate financial metrics. The company’s ambitious trajectory in developing next-generation memory technologies, alongside substantial financial backing for AI development, positions it as a key player in the ongoing AI revolution. With both hardware innovations and strategic investments in AI developers like OpenAI, SoftBank is poised to influence the landscape of artificial intelligence technology significantly.
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