As President & CEO Junichi Miyakawa mentioned at the earnings briefing for Q1 FY2023 on August 4, 2023, SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) views generative AI to be the most important technology for the future. Accordingly, SoftBank is working on a number of generative AI initiatives.
One such major initiative is a strategic alliance with Microsoft in the generative AI domain. On August 2, 2023, SoftBank and Microsoft Japan unveiled a strategic partnership focused on cloud services and the AI domain to accelerate the digital transformation (DX) of organizations in the Japan market. The partnership fuses Microsoft's offerings, including Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, and Azure OpenAI Service, with SoftBank's mobile networks (including its 5G network), fixed-line networks and voice services to provide organizations with cutting-edge work environments and comprehensive solutions tailored to the needs of their respective industry sectors.
Under the agreement, SoftBank will also actively utilize Microsoft Azure as its recommended internal cloud platform to accelerate its workstyle transformation.
In addition, SoftBank will participate in the Microsoft 365 Copilot Early Access Program. Microsoft 365 Copilot is a service that combines large language models (LLMs) with data in Microsoft Graph and Microsoft 365; and the Microsoft 365 Copilot Early Access Program is a preview available to a select few companies worldwide by invitation from Microsoft. SoftBank will incorporate the insights and expertise gained through this program in its proposals to enterprise customers. SoftBank will also consider combining its know-how gained from the program with its solutions for provision to enterprise customers.
Commenting on the partnership, SoftBank Corp. President & CEO Junichi Miyakawa said SoftBank and Microsoft Japan will help accelerate the DX of enterprise customers in Japan by leveraging their respective technologies and services. “We’re actively working to enhance the productivity of businesses and governments and collaborating to create new value for them,” he added.
(Posted on August 24, 2023)
by SoftBank News Editors