Svmuu News: Four companies—SoftBank, NEC, Honda, and the Sony Group—have established a new company called "Japan AI Foundation Model Development" with the aim of creating domestically developed AI foundation models and providing them to Japanese businesses.The company’s president is an executive from SoftBank, and Nippon Steel, Kobe Steel, as well as Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and Mizuho Bank are participating as investors. SoftBank, and NEC are responsible for development, while Honda plans to apply the results to autonomous driving, with Preferred Networks also participating.The company will soon apply for a public solicitation by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). If selected, it is expected to receive approximately 1 trillion yen in support over a five-year period starting in fiscal year 2026.