SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son is reportedly developing plans for a $1 trillion industrial complex in Arizona focused on robotics and artificial intelligence production.
According to Bloomberg News, the project, codenamed Project Crystal Land, aims to create a US equivalent of China’s Shenzhen manufacturing hub.
Sources indicate Son is pursuing a partnership with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) for the initiative. SoftBank representatives have reportedly held discussions with US officials including commerce secretary Howard Lutnick regarding potential tax incentives for participating companies.
The Bloomberg report notes that SoftBank has not clarified TSMC’s potential role in the project. The semiconductor manufacturer is already constructing US chip factories with $165 billion planned investment. Son is also reportedly considering involvement from other technology firms such as Samsung Electronics.
Project feasibility remains dependent on support from the Trump administration and government officials, with plans currently in preliminary stages. This development follows SoftBank’s recent surge in technology investments.
In April, the company revealed plans to invest up to $40 billion in OpenAI, significantly expanding their existing partnership. The previous month saw SoftBank acquire US chip designer Ampere Computing in a $6.5 billion all cash deal as part of its AI infrastructure expansion.
The February announcement of a collaboration between OpenAI and SoftBank to develop Cristal intelligence marked another milestone. This enterprise AI solution is designed to securely integrate business systems and data with customisation for individual company requirements. The partnership was detailed in a joint statement earlier this year.
