Japan's AI Demand Set to Skyrocket 320-fold by 2030, SoftBank Executive Reveals at NVIDIA AI Day Tokyo

Japan's AI Boom: A 320-fold Increase in Demand by 2030

At the recent NVIDIA AI Day Tokyo event, which attracted over 900 attendees, industry leaders unveiled projections for an unprecedented surge in artificial intelligence (AI) adoption across Japan. Kuniyoshi Suzuki, senior director of the cloud AI service division at SoftBank Corp., made a striking announcement that captured the attention of AI enthusiasts, developers, and researchers alike 1

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Explosive Growth in AI Computing Power Demand

Suzuki's forecast paints a picture of exponential growth in Japan's AI landscape. He stated, "Japan will see a 320x increase from 2020 in demand for AI computing power by 2030" 1

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. This projection underscores the rapid acceleration of AI adoption across various sectors in the country, signaling a transformative decade ahead for Japanese technology and industry.

The Push for Domestic AI Technologies

In light of this projected growth, Suzuki emphasized the critical need for Japan to develop its own AI capabilities. He stressed the importance of "building a foundation of domestic technologies" 1

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1. High-performance, Japan-made large language models (LLMs)
2. Large-scale domestic computing infrastructure capable of continuous LLM development

The focus on homegrown AI solutions is driven by the need to "ensure transparency and safety as AI adoption expands" 1

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. This approach aligns with global trends of countries seeking to establish sovereign AI capabilities to maintain technological independence and address unique cultural and linguistic needs.

Government Support and Investment

Recognizing the strategic importance of AI and semiconductors, the Japanese government has outlined ambitious plans to support the growth of these sectors. A substantial investment of ¥10 trillion (approximately $65 billion) is planned by 2030 to bolster Japan's capabilities in these critical areas 2

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The GENIAC Program: Tailoring AI for Japan

In addition to financial investment, Japan is launching the GENIAC (Generative AI Center) program. This initiative aims to strengthen domestic capabilities in generative AI by supporting the development of models specifically tailored to Japan's language and industrial needs 2

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. The program underscores Japan's commitment to creating AI solutions that are not only technologically advanced but also culturally relevant and aligned with the country's unique requirements.

Industry Collaboration and AI Factories

The NVIDIA AI Day Tokyo event also highlighted the collaborative efforts within Japan's tech industry. Cloud partners such as SoftBank, GMO Internet, and KDDI showcased their latest advancements in AI factories and demonstrated how they are supporting developers in building AI models and services 1

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. These partnerships between major tech players and AI developers are crucial for creating the ecosystem necessary to support the projected growth in AI demand.