**[Japan Invests Approximately $2.383 Billion to Support SoftBank-Led Development of Domestic AI Models]** BlockBeats News, July 1 — According to Kyodo News, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) disclosed on June 30 that it will provide 387.3 billion yen (approximately $2.383 billion) as development commissioning fees for fiscal year 2026 to support a new company led by SoftBank, dedicated to developing domestic artificial intelligence (AI) foundational models. METI aims to promote research and development in the field of physical AI, which integrates robotics and AI technologies, thereby enhancing Japan's competitive edge in manufacturing. The new company, named "Noetra" (formerly Japan AI Foundational Model Development), will be established with SoftBank, NEC, Honda, and Sony Group as its core members. In addition to advanced Japanese language comprehension and reasoning capabilities, the company will focus on developing foundational models capable of recognizing images, videos, audio, and physical spaces. The company has already been selected for a support project under METI's "New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization" (NEDO). --------------------------------- Click the link below to access the original article and join the Beating · Feishu AI News Channel for 24/7 global AI news and updates. [Original Link]