NVIDIA and AMD CEOs Visit Japan Back-to-Back, Meet PM Ishiba to Explore AI Opportunities

Recently, the CEOs of NVIDIA and AMD made swift trips to Japan, both aiming to tap into the burgeoning AI market there.

Japan is clearly positioning itself as a hotbed for AI advancements, showing significant interest by heavily investing in technology to maintain its edge in the AI domain. The country is actively inviting tech heavyweights like NVIDIA and AMD to establish a footprint, with ambitions of becoming the world’s premier hub for AI development and application. The recent visits by AMD’s CEO Lisa Su and NVIDIA’s CEO Jensen Huang underscore Japan’s emergence as a pivotal destination for AI companies looking to broaden their influence.

According to a Bloomberg report, Jensen Huang’s trip included a request for Japan to boost its electricity output to meet AI’s growing demands. He sat down with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to explore how Japan, already a powerhouse in robotics and industrial manufacturing, could ascend to leadership in AI. Huang also gifted a DGX Spark AI supercomputer to Prime Minister Ishiba as a testament to NVIDIA’s commitment to Japan’s AI goals.

NVIDIA is in a challenging position as it deals with retaining its substantial market share in China, grappling with new US export restrictions and rising competition. Faced with these hurdles, the company is eyeing alternative markets, and Japan stands out, thanks to its substantial R&D capabilities and ambition to play a major role in global AI.

On the other side, Lisa Su’s visit involved meetings with Japan’s Prime Minister and various partners, signaling AMD’s interest in the region. While the details remain sparse, it’s evident that Japan is keen on fostering AMD’s regional growth, suggesting a preference for aligning with the company to further its AI initiatives. It’s clear that the competition between NVIDIA and AMD for dominance in Japan’s AI landscape is heating up, with both companies eager to strengthen their foothold.