Stay informed with free updates
Simply sign up to the Artificial intelligence myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.
SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son is pushing the idea of a vast $1tn artificial intelligence and robotics complex in the US state of Arizona that could include the establishment of a free-trade zone and the involvement of the world’s biggest chipmaker, TSMC.
The plan, which Son has raised with US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, is aimed at bringing high-tech manufacturing into the country at scale, said three people familiar with the concept, which was first reported by Bloomberg.
SoftBank officials have also discussed it with local and federal politicians in an effort to secure tax breaks, according to the same people.
The final size of the project, if approved, may vary significantly, depending on the level of interest from tech groups, the people warned.
SoftBank and TSMC declined to comment. Lutnick did not respond to a request for comment.
The Arizona concept is the latest large-scale, creative plan to be promoted by the SoftBank chief. He has already pledged $500bn to the Stargate project to scale up US data centres and artificial intelligence infrastructure with OpenAI, Oracle and Abu Dhabi’s MGX.
Stargate funding is coming from project finance, a model that could be repeated if his latest venture comes to fruition.
Son has staked his reputation on AI and built a web of partnerships and capital stakes with companies including Nvidia and OpenAI, as well as a host of smaller companies through the group’s Vision Fund investment vehicles. He hopes to leverage many of these in the new project.
The SoftBank chief has also remained close to President Donald Trump. He was one of the first foreign visitors to Mar-a-Lago, the president’s Florida home, following his re-election and is spending large amounts of time in the US.
A person familiar with the matter said TSMC had yet to be formally approached about the plan.
The Taiwanese chipmaker has a massive US investment plan in place and is beginning mass production of advanced chips in Arizona this year.
Another person said Son had floated the idea of free-trade zones in various US states to encourage investment from countries such as Taiwan, suggesting the already ambitious Arizona plan could be replicated if successful.
Son has also suggested various iterations of a joint US-Japan investment vehicle to make large-scale plays in tech and infrastructure across the US.
Credit: Source link
