SoftBank's $1 Trillion AI Megaproject

👋 Good morning/evening (wherever you are). It’s Friday.

SoftBank just proposed a $1 trillion AI and robotics hub in Arizona.

Bloomberg reports that Masayoshi Son is pitching Project Crystal Land, a massive industrial complex designed to establish a new center for high-tech manufacturing in the U.S., inspired by China’s Shenzhen.

He’s looking to partner with TSMC and has already begun discussions with federal and state officials. The vision includes production lines for AI-powered robots, top-tier tech partners, and the infrastructure to support SoftBank’s broader AI ambitions.

It’s still early, with no confirmed funding or partners. But even floating an idea at this scale shows how far SoftBank is willing to go to shape the future of AI.

Switching gears:

In case you missed it, here’s two popular LinkedIn posts from this week.

Matt Zein’s Cinematic Promised Land

A short film that questions whether the platforms freeing creatives are just building prettier cages.

One of the bravest pieces I’ve seen. It’s raw, real, and speaks directly to the soul.

Hashem Al-Ghaili’s AI macro documentary

Remember those outdated science videos from school?

Now imagine your kids learning through stunning, high-resolution journeys into the deepest parts of the ocean and distant galaxies far, far away…

Some places are so remote or extreme that even on our own planet, they’ve been nearly impossible to film. Until now, with AI.

OK let’s keep going ↓

Here’s what you should know:

• Apple quietly explored acquiring Perplexity

  Apple explored acquiring Perplexity AI to accelerate Siri’s capabilities, and while talks never reached the company, Meta also considered a deal before pivoting to other AI investments.

• Apple hit with AI-related shareholder lawsuit

  Apple is being sued by shareholders who claim it misled investors about the pace of AI integration into Siri, allegedly causing massive losses tied to iPhone sales and stock performance.

• BBC threatens legal action against Perplexity

  The BBC has threatened legal action against Perplexity, demanding it stop scraping content, delete existing data, and propose compensation for alleged misuse of its material.

• Oakley Meta glasses are here

  Oakley and Meta debut a new category of performance AI eyewear, built to enhance athletic potential with hands-free video, audio, and real-time coaching.

• Uber launches global AI data platform for enterprises

  Uber is turning its AI playbook into a product, offering the same data engine behind self-driving cars and GenAI agents to power next-gen models across 30+ countries.

• Accenture restructures to lead in the age of AI

  Accenture is unifying its services under a new Reinvention Services unit to accelerate GenAI delivery and strengthen its position as the top AI-enabled consultancy.

• Deezer launches AI tagging system for music streaming

  Deezer now tags albums with fully AI-generated tracks to increase transparency and help users identify synthetic content across the platform.

• Applebee’s and IHOP plan to introduce AI in restaurants

  Dine Brands, the parent company of Applebee’s and IHOP, is rolling out AI tools to personalize menus, streamline tech support, and boost efficiency across its 3,500+ restaurants.

The numbers:

• Elon Musk’s xAI extended its $5 billion debt offering and raised the yield to 12.5% after weak initial demand.

• Alibaba-backed AI startup MiniMax is planning a Hong Kong IPO at a $3 billion valuation, positioning itself as one of China’s leading challengers to OpenAI.

• Mira Murati’s new AI startup, Thinking Machines Lab, has raised $2 billion at a $10 billion valuation in what may be the largest seed round ever.

Thought starters:

• Anthropic tested 16 AI models for insider threat behavior

• Spotify CEO Daniel Ek says that AI “could be potentially huge for creativity”

• Reddit may adopt Sam Altman’s iris-scanning Orb

Meme of the day:

Thanks for reading,

Eddie

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