An interesting development in Japan’s AI industry. I noticed that four major companies — SoftBank, NEC, Honda, and Sony Group — have come together to create their own foundational AI. This is quite a serious step.

The meaning is simple: Japan wants to develop homegrown core AI models instead of relying on foreign solutions. SoftBank and NEC will be responsible for the actual development, while Honda plans to apply the technology to autonomous driving. A typical Japanese approach is to unite large players to achieve a strategic goal.

What’s interesting is that serious financial players have invested in the project. Nippon Steel, Kobe Steel, Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Bank, and Mizuho Bank — all of them are participating in the funding. When you see such a lineup of investors, you realize this isn’t just a corporate project, but a government initiative.

The company is already getting ready to submit an application to participate in the National Agency for the Development of New Technologies competition. If it wins, it could receive support of one trillion yen for five years, starting from the 2026 fiscal year. That’s serious money.

So it turns out that Japan is actively working on creating an independent AI ecosystem. Considering the involvement of Preferred Networks and such backing from major banks and manufacturers, it seems this could become one of the significant projects in Asia’s AI sector in the coming years.