According to reports, Masayoshi Son, founder of SoftBank Group, is planning to raise up to $100 billion to establish an artificial intelligence chip company named "Izanagi." This initiative aims to create a significant technology giant that complements ARM Holdings PLC.
Izanagi takes its name from the Japanese deity of creation and life, symbolizing rebirth while cleverly incorporating the acronym for Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Son is a strong advocate for AI technology, describing himself as a "heavy user" of ChatGPT, engaging with this AI model nearly every day.
Son anticipates that SoftBank will contribute $30 billion to this project, while the remaining $70 billion may come from institutions in the Middle East. However, the specific sources of funding and the future direction of usage remain unclear.
Last year, Son projected that AGI will be achieved within the next decade, emphasizing that ARM will be one of the central beneficiaries of this technological revolution. He illustrated this vision through a slide titled "Speed of Evolution," which charts the progression of human history, indicating that AI will cause a significant upward trajectory in the coming years.
With SoftBank's successful IPO of ARM and Son's unwavering faith in AI, the Izanagi project is poised to become a prominent force in the global AI landscape. While specifics are still being confirmed, Son has already showcased his ambitious vision for the future of artificial intelligence.