SoftBank has confirmed its acquisition of Sharp’s Sakai Plant in Osaka for $676 million, a strategic move to convert the former LCD panel facility into a high-capacity AI data center. The investment underscores SoftBank’s ambitious AI expansion in Japan, aligning with its collaboration with OpenAI to deploy advanced AI infrastructure.
A SoftBank spokesperson referred to the company’s prior announcement on Cristal Intelligence, an enterprise AI developed with OpenAI, when asked about its plans for the facility. Reports suggest that SB OpenAI Japan, a joint venture, will train AI models using client data and offer tailored AI solutions.
SoftBank aims to commence data center operations in 2026, scaling capacity from 150 to 240 megawatts.
