It seems that NVIDIA and AMD’s top executives both made recent trips to Japan, each hoping to tap into the burgeoning AI market there.
Japan is fast becoming a hotspot for AI development, investing heavily in technology to secure a leading position globally. The country has been actively encouraging tech giants like NVIDIA and AMD to pour resources into its AI infrastructure, aiming to become “the easiest place in the world to develop and utilize AI.” The presence of AMD’s CEO Lisa Su and NVIDIA’s CEO Jensen Huang signifies a strong interest in making Japan a focal point for their AI operations.
A Bloomberg report highlights that Jensen Huang’s visit included urging Japan to increase electricity generation, a necessity to support the AI industry’s growth. When Jensen met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, discussions centered around Japan’s potential leadership role in AI, leveraging its established strengths in robotics and industrial sectors. As a gesture of commitment, Jensen gifted the Prime Minister a DGX Spark AI supercomputer.
For NVIDIA, expanding its footprint in Japan is especially crucial, as the company faces significant challenges maintaining its large market share in China due to tighter US export controls and rising competition. With such uncertainties looming, seeking new markets is imperative, and Japan’s robust R&D capabilities and aspirations in AI make it an attractive prospect for NVIDIA.
Meanwhile, Lisa Su also made her presence felt in Japan, engaging with the Prime Minister and several business partners. Though details of her visit remain scarce, there’s speculation that Japan sees AMD as a promising ally in its AI initiatives. This underscores a competitive race between NVIDIA and AMD to establish a dominant presence in Japan’s AI market.
Both CEOs appear committed to fostering a deep partnership with Japan in the coming years, anticipating mutual growth and innovation in AI technologies.