[SoftBank and Four Japanese Companies Establish New Firm to Develop Domestic AI Foundation Models] Odaily Planet Daily News: SoftBank, NEC, Honda, and Sony Group have jointly established a new company named 'Japan AI Foundation Model Development,' aiming to create domestic AI foundation models and provide them to Japanese enterprises. The company's president will be a SoftBank executive. Nippon Steel, Kobe Steel, Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and Mizuho Bank are contributing to the funding. SoftBank and NEC will handle development work, Honda plans to apply the results to autonomous driving, and Preferred Networks is also participating. The company will soon apply for the public solicitation by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). If selected, it is expected to receive support amounting to 1 trillion yen over five years starting from fiscal year 2026.