SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son is pitching a $1 trillion artificial intelligence manufacturing hub in Arizona, seeking to partner with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and the Trump administration in what would dwarf his previous tech investments, according to Bloomberg News.
The proposal, dubbed “Project Crystal Land,” envisions an industrial complex rivaling China’s Shenzhen that would produce AI-powered robots and semiconductors, marking Son’s latest attempt to position himself at the center of America’s AI ambitions.
Son has discussed potential tax incentives with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and reached out to other tech firms including Samsung for the project, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing people familiar with his thinking1. The complex would focus on bringing high-tech manufacturing back to the United States, aligning with Trump administration priorities1.
The proposal builds on Son’s existing $500 billion “Project Stargate” collaboration with OpenAI and Oracle to construct AI data centers across the country1. SoftBank recently led a $40 billion funding round in OpenAI, with the company planning to syndicate $10 billion to co-investors2.
The timing coincides with TSMC’s expanding U.S. presence. In March, the world’s largest contract chipmaker announced plans to increase its American investment to $165 billion, up from $65 billion, to build five Arizona fabrication facilities12. President Trump praised the move as vital for making the U.S. an AI hub, supporting companies like Nvidia and Apple1.
TSMC’s expansion is expected to create 40,000 construction jobs over four years and tens of thousands of high-tech manufacturing positions2. The company said the investment would generate “hundreds of billions of dollars in semiconductor value for AI and other cutting-edge applications”2.
Son, known for bold investment strategies that have yielded both massive wins and losses, has long championed his vision of artificial “super intelligence”12. His early $20 million investment in Alibaba grew to $75 billion by 2014, but he also holds the distinction of losing more than $59 billion during the dot-com crash2.
The proposal faces questions about funding and execution, given SoftBank’s mixed investment track record, including high-profile failures like WeWork3. It remains unclear whether TSMC has committed to the venture or what specific government incentives might be offered4.
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