Overview

• SoftBank purchased Sharp's defunct LCD plant in Osaka for 100 billion yen ($676 million) to convert it into a large-scale AI data center.
• The facility will initially operate at 150 megawatts, scaling to over 250 megawatts, making it one of Japan's largest AI-focused data centers.
• The center will support SoftBank's collaboration with OpenAI, including potential development and commercialization of AI agent models in Japan.
• SoftBank plans to use the facility for generative AI development, offering its services to businesses, universities, and research institutions.
• Sharp, struggling financially, expects the sale to provide a significant boost, while SoftBank's total investment in the project could eventually reach $6.7 billion.