Looking to enter the data center market?
🟦 SoftBank in talks to acquire British AI chip startup Graphcore
SoftBank is in talks to acquire British AI chip startup Graphcore. If the acquisition goes through, the company may leverage Graphcore’s AI chip technology to enter the AI chip market for data centers.
Graphcore was valued at $ 2.8 billion (about 435 billion yen) at the time of funding in 2020, but has now fallen to $ 528 million. The company is facing a serious financial situation and needs further financing by May this year.
🟦A strategy that combines AI, semiconductors, and robotics
SoftBank is envisioning a strategy that integrates AI, semiconductors, and robotics based on its semiconductor design business, which is centered on its U.K. subsidiary Arm. The acquisition of Graphcore is seen as part of that strategy. With the rapid spread of generative AI, NVIDIA boasts an overwhelming share of the AI chip market for data centers, so it seems that the aim is to utilize Graphcore’s AI chip technology.
🟦Summary
SoftBank is reportedly in talks to acquire British AI chip startup Graphcore. If the acquisition goes through, the company may leverage Graphcore’s AI chip technology to enter the AI chip market for data centers.
