SoftBank Proposes $1 Trillion Arizona AI Hub

SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son has proposed Project Crystal Land, a $1 trillion industrial complex in Arizona aimed at manufacturing robots and advancing artificial intelligence, modeled after China's Shenzhen tech hub. The project would potentially host factories run by SoftBank Vision Fund portfolio companies and other tech partners, emphasizing AI-powered industrial robots. Son has discussed the plan with companies such as TSMC and Samsung, though TSMC’s involvement remains unclear as it focuses on its own $165 billion U.S. investments. The initiative is separate from SoftBank’s $500 billion Stargate AI infrastructure project. SoftBank is seeking federal and state tax incentives and has briefed U.S. officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, but the plan's feasibility depends on political and private sector support. Project Crystal Land remains in early stages with significant uncertainty but signals Son’s ambition to elevate the U.S. in AI and high-tech manufacturing.