Anthropic opens Tokyo office to tap corporate AI demand in Asia.

Anthropic opens Tokyo office to tap corporate AI demand in Asia.

SoftBank, the Japanese conglomerate led by Masayoshi Son, is considering acquiring Indian IT and BPO firms to integrate AI capabilities, marking a significant shift from its traditional investment approach. This strategy aligns with SoftBank's global AI infrastructure initiatives, such as The Stargate Project and Cristal Intelligence [1].

The Masayoshi Son-led company held talks to acquire AGS Health in a potential $1 billion deal, but those discussions did not materialize. Instead, SoftBank is exploring other opportunities with firms like WNS Global, aiming to combine AI capabilities with services delivery at scale, either through acquisitions or strategic alliances [1].

SoftBank’s interest in Indian IT-enabled services firms aligns with its broader push to invest behind global AI infrastructure. The company has launched The Stargate Project, a $500 billion initiative over four years aimed at building AI infrastructure in the US to support OpenAI [1]. In parallel, SoftBank is developing an advanced enterprise AI solution in collaboration with OpenAI, called Cristal Intelligence, which aims to integrate OpenAI’s technology across SoftBank’s portfolio companies [1].

The Asia-Pacific data center GPUs market is projected to reach $44.6 billion by 2034 from $6.7 billion in 2024, growing at a CAGR of 20.80% during the forecast period 2024-2034 [2]. This growth is fueled by the increasing demand for high-performance computing, powered by AI, deep learning, and big-data analytics, which drives GPU adoption as specialized "workhorses" for complex tasks [2].

SoftBank’s interest in Indian IT-enabled services firms also aligns with the broader trend of GPU-driven data centers in the Asia-Pacific region. The region is positioned to become a global center for GPU-accelerated innovation, propelling both economic growth and technological leadership [2].

SoftBank’s interest in Indian IT-enabled services firms is part of its broader strategy to invest in AI infrastructure and data centers in India. The company is exploring opportunities in these areas, aligning with the ongoing global rush towards AI buoyed by the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022 [1].

References:
[1] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/startups/softbank-eyeing-buyout-deals-in-india-to-push-ai-led-it-bpo-operations/articleshow/122032568.cms
[2] https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/06/24/3104258/28124/en/Asia-Pacific-Data-Center-GPUs-Market-Forecast-Report-2025-Cloud-Provider-Expansion-Into-APAC-Offering-GPU-as-a-Service-and-Hybrid-cloud-GPU-Solutions.html