SoftBank Group subsidiary Arm Holdings Plc (NASDAQ: ARM) is developing artificial intelligence chips. The company plans to release its first products next year as part of CEO Masayoshi Son's $64 billion strategy to transform SoftBank into a significant AI powerhouse.
Based in the U.K., Arm will establish a new AI chip division and aim to develop a prototype by spring 2025. Mass production through contract manufacturers will likely commence in the fall of 2025, Nikkei Asia reports.
Arm, known for supplying architecture to chipmakers like Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA) and dominating the smartphone processor design market, will take on the initial development costs, projected to be hundreds of billions of yen. SoftBank, owning a 90% stake in Arm, will also contribute financially.
Following the establishment of a mass-production system, the AI chip business may be spun off under SoftBank.
Negotiations are underway with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (NYSE: TSM) and others to secure production capacity. Son envisions this move into AI as a catalyst for expansion into data centers, robotics, and power generation, integrating AI, semiconductor, and robotics technologies to drive innovation across various sectors.
Son's commitment to AI extends to his belief that AI can surpass human intellect and solve complex problems. He has traveled globally to secure partnerships and technologies that align with this vision.
Additionally, SoftBank plans significant investments in data centers powered by its own AI chips and renewable energy sources, including wind and solar, with potential expansions into fusion technology.
Recent reports indicated Arm enhancing its offerings with more comprehensive technology blueprints for companies like Amazon.com Inc's (NASDAQ: AMZN) AWS, positioning itself as a competitor to Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ: QCOM).
Analysts remain optimistic about Arm's strategic positioning and potential for growth, particularly in AI adoption at the edge and data center server CPU infrastructure. They highlight Arm's significant free cash flow generation and continued semiconductor IP market share dominance.
Arm stock gained over 71% in the last 12 months.
ARM Price Action: Arm shares traded higher by 3.22% at $112.35 premarket at the last check Monday.