Japan Tracks Jensen Huang’s Departure

Mainichi reported on the 13th that the Japanese government is closely monitoring former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang after his departure under a cloud. Japan has made physical AI, which uses robots and other machines, a new driver of economic growth and has pursued support policies. Because developing and running it requires vast computing resources, the government has made cooperation with Nvidia, the world’s largest AI chipmaker, a key priority.

The cooperation Japan wants includes supplies of the latest graphics processing units (GPUs), the Nemotron and Cosmos AI agent and robotics foundation models Nvidia has agreed to provide to Japan, and semiconductor technology for embedding in robots. Noetra, an AI model under development with investment from more than 40 Japanese companies led by SoftBank Group, including NEC, Honda and Sony Group, is also working with Nvidia.

Japan welcomed Huang during his visit in July and announced a joint vision to gain an early lead in the global physical AI market. Huang said Japan’s accumulated manufacturing expertise was needed for competitiveness in physical AI. Referring to “monozukuri,” a manufacturing culture rooted in craftsmanship, he said the related infrastructure would necessarily be built in Japan. At the welcome event, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced plans to procure about 27,500 of Nvidia’s advanced Rubin AI chips, described as the largest government procurement of its kind worldwide.

Japanese Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki said at a news conference on the 13th that Nvidia products are an important part of Japan’s technology base and that the government would continue monitoring developments. He declined to comment on the impact of Huang’s departure at this time and added that the government would work to ensure stable semiconductor supplies.

Mainichi reported on the 13th that the Japanese government is closely monitoring former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang after his departure under a cloud. Japan has made physical AI, which uses robots and other machines, a new driver of economic growth and has pursued support policies. Because developing and running it requires vast computing resources, the government has made cooperation with Nvidia, the world’s largest AI chipmaker, a key priority.

The cooperation Japan wants includes supplies of the latest graphics processing units (GPUs), the Nemotron and Cosmos AI agent and robotics foundation models Nvidia has agreed to provide to Japan, and semiconductor technology for embedding in robots. Noetra, an AI model under development with investment from more than 40 Japanese companies led by SoftBank Group, including NEC, Honda and Sony Group, is also working with Nvidia.

Japan welcomed Huang during his visit in July and announced a joint vision to gain an early lead in the global physical AI market. Huang said Japan’s accumulated manufacturing expertise was needed for competitiveness in physical AI. Referring to “monozukuri,” a manufacturing culture rooted in craftsmanship, he said the related infrastructure would necessarily be built in Japan. At the welcome event, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced plans to procure about 27,500 of Nvidia’s advanced Rubin AI chips, described as the largest government procurement of its kind worldwide.

Japanese Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki said at a news conference on the 13th that Nvidia products are an important part of Japan’s technology base and that the government would continue monitoring developments. He declined to comment on the impact of Huang’s departure at this time and added that the government would work to ensure stable semiconductor supplies.