Top NVIDIA and AMD Executives Visit Japan, Hold Talks with PM Ishiba on Advancing AI Initiatives

Recent reports indicate that the CEOs of tech giants NVIDIA and AMD have recently visited Japan, signaling a keen interest in tapping into the nation’s burgeoning AI market.

JP: The New Hotspot for AI Investments By NVIDIA and AMD

It appears that Japan is making significant strides in AI advancements, as seen by its heavy investments to remain at the forefront of AI technology. The Japanese government has been actively encouraging major tech companies like NVIDIA and AMD to lay down their roots in Japan to enhance AI infrastructure, aiming to make the country "the most conducive place globally for AI development and implementation." This notion is further reinforced by the visits of AMD’s CEO Lisa Su and NVIDIA’s CEO Jensen Huang, highlighting Japan as the next significant target for AI firms looking to expand their influence.

Bloomberg reports that during Jensen’s trip to Japan, there was a conversation around augmenting the country’s power generation to support the AI sector’s growing energy needs. In a noteworthy meeting with Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, they delved into strategies for Japan to take on a leading role in AI, leveraging its well-regarded reputation in robotics and industrial manufacturing. Jensen also presented a DGX Spark AI supercomputer to the Prime Minister, underscoring NVIDIA’s dedication to Japan’s AI aspirations.

NVIDIA faces challenges in maintaining its extensive market presence in China due to new U.S. export regulations and increasing competition. This situation has prompted the company to seek out alternate markets, with Japan emerging as a favorable option thanks to its substantial R&D infrastructure and ambitions of becoming a pivotal player in the global AI landscape.

In a tweet, Lisa Su expressed her enthusiasm following her visit, mentioning productive meetings with Prime Minister Ishiba, as well as with AMD’s partners and employees in Tokyo. Here’s a glimpse of her tweet:

"Honored to meet Prime Minister Ishiba, and many customers, partners and @AMD employees in Tokyo last week. We look forward to deep collaboration in the coming years!"

While the finer details of Lisa Su’s visit remain largely undisclosed, it’s known that Japan is significantly interested in AMD’s expansion plans within the region. The Japanese government seems eager to foster a robust relationship with AMD (Team Red) to forward its AI objectives. Clearly, the competition between NVIDIA and AMD for a foothold in Japan’s burgeoning AI scene is heating up.