Softbank Unveils 'Crystal' in Partnership With OpenAI

Feb 03, 2025 | News On Japan

TOKYO - SoftBank Group Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have launched a new AI services company in Japan, aiming to drive innovation in enterprise AI. At the unveiling, Son introduced the company’s first service, "Crystal," which he described as a revolutionary AI solution that will transform business operations.

Addressing an audience of 500 corporate executives, he emphasized that Crystal will integrate corporate data, such as human resources information, to provide strategic advice. In the future, he suggested, AI could even take over key business functions like sales, enhancing efficiency and competitiveness. He underscored the significance of AI adoption, stating that companies using Crystal will have an overwhelming advantage, comparing the gap to "a machine gun and a sword."

The new venture comes as Japan seeks to regain its standing in AI development amid rapid advancements by global competitors. OpenAI’s involvement signals a strategic partnership, with Altman bringing his expertise to the initiative. During the launch, he addressed concerns over the rise of DeepSeek, a Chinese company that has developed a ChatGPT-like AI at a lower cost. Altman stressed that ensuring AI safety requires significant effort but noted that once security is guaranteed, AI technologies will be readily accepted. OpenAI is currently investigating whether any Chinese firms have improperly used its technology, highlighting growing concerns over AI competition and intellectual property.

Beyond Crystal, SoftBank and OpenAI have already announced a major collaboration in the United States. Their joint initiative, "Stargate," involves an investment of 78 trillion yen and aims to drive large-scale AI research and deployment. Altman predicted that AI will soon enable breakthroughs at an unprecedented pace, with decades' worth of discoveries occurring in just a year and centuries' worth in the next. He suggested that such rapid advancements will have a profound impact on both economic growth and quality of life.

With this partnership, SoftBank and OpenAI are making a bold move to place Japan at the forefront of AI innovation. As AI continues to reshape industries, the success of this initiative could determine Japan’s ability to compete in the increasingly AI-driven global economy.

Source: TBS

Typhoon No. 24 Expected to Approach Japan Later This Week

A tropical depression south of Japan is expected to develop into Typhoon No. 24 by September 1 and could approach the Japanese archipelago later in the week, raising the risk of renewed warning-level rainfall and widespread flooding in Hokuriku and heavy rain in the Kanto and Tokai regions.

USJ Eyes First-Ever Park Expansion

Universal Studios Japan is considering its first expansion since opening in 2001, with plans to use about 60,000 square meters of former Nippon Steel factory land adjacent to the park and potentially increase its total area by roughly 10%.

Japan Cuts Speed Limit on Residential Roads to 30 km/h

Japan will lower the statutory speed limit on certain residential roads from 60 kilometers per hour to 30 km/h from September 1, with police in Hyogo Prefecture urging drivers to familiarize themselves with the new rules and drive more carefully in neighborhood areas.

Heatstroke Alert Issued Day After Record Rain Hits Fukui

Residents in Fukui Prefecture began clearing flood-damaged homes early on August 31 as temperatures climbed sharply following record rainfall, prompting authorities to issue a heatstroke alert while recovery work continued in severe heat.

Drones Deliver Supplies to Residents Cut Off by Landslide

Drones were used to deliver food and daily necessities to an isolated mountain community in Himi City, Toyama Prefecture, on August 30 after torrential rain triggered a landslide that cut off road access, while volunteers continued flood recovery work in neighboring Ishikawa Prefecture.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Honda and Nissan Agree to Jointly Develop Vehicle Operating System

Honda and Nissan Motor have agreed to jointly develop an operating system and onboard computers for next-generation vehicles, aiming to introduce the technology in new models from fiscal 2029 as they seek to compete with U.S. and Chinese automakers.

Japan Marks Showa Centennial With 1,000-Yen Silver Coin

Japan began producing a commemorative 1,000-yen silver coin marking 100 years since the start of the Showa era at the Japan Mint in Osaka on August 31, with a first-striking ceremony held to mark the start of production.

Nikkei Nearly Erases 1,500-Point Drop as TOPIX Extends Winning Streak

Tokyo stocks ended mixed on August 31, with the Nikkei 225 closing at 66,311.93, down 93.63 points, or 0.14%, after briefly plunging more than 1,500 points in early trading, while the broader TOPIX rose 9.58 points, or 0.23%, to 4,156.29 for its eighth straight gain.

Japan's Long-Term Yield Briefly Hits 2.95%, Highest in About 30 Years

Japan's benchmark long-term interest rate briefly climbed to 2.95% on August 31, its highest level in about 30 years, as investors sold government bonds on expectations of further Bank of Japan rate increases, rising U.S. yields and concerns over the outlook for government spending.