SoftBank Shares Surge on Intel AI Memory Partnership

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Shares of SoftBank Group Corp. experienced a significant rally on the Tokyo exchange following a major announcement from its subsidiary, Saimemory. The newly formed unit revealed a strategic collaboration with Intel Corporation aimed at developing next-generation memory technology for artificial intelligence applications. The stock closed the session up 5.13 percent at 4,300 yen, reflecting strong investor confidence in the venture's potential.

This partnership directly addresses a critical bottleneck in the AI industry: the massive energy consumption required for complex computations. As demand for high-performance memory soars, conventional architectures are proving increasingly inadequate, creating a pressing need for innovation.

Key Project Details:
* Initial prototypes are targeted for 2028, with a commercial market launch planned for 2029.
* The core objectives are enhancing energy efficiency and reducing overall system costs.
* Technology firm Fujitsu is also reported to be involved in the initiative.
* SoftBank's Q3 FY2025 financial results are scheduled for release on February 12.

Formally launched on February 3, 2026, the "Z-Angle Memory" (ZAM) program is a joint endeavor between Saimemory and Intel. The roadmap calls for the first functional prototypes to be ready within the 2027/28 fiscal year, leading to a full commercial rollout in FY2029.

Saimemory, which was established just in December 2024, gains access to Intel's advanced memory expertise. This knowledge is partly derived from Intel's work on the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Memory Technology program. For Intel, the new architecture represents a pathway to boost DRAM performance while simultaneously cutting power usage and expense.

Dr. Joshua Fryman, Chief Technology Officer at Intel Government Technologies, highlighted that standard memory designs are no longer sufficient to meet AI's demanding workloads. The timing of this initiative is strategic, as the memory supply chain faces intensifying pressure from AI sector demand that far outpaces available supply.

A Broader AI Investment Strategy

The memory development project aligns with SoftBank's comprehensive focus on artificial intelligence. The Japanese conglomerate is already a major investor in OpenAI, and industry reports suggest discussions are ongoing regarding potential further investments that could reach $30 billion.

SoftBank's commitment to AI is already yielding substantial financial returns. In November 2025, the group reported a record first-half net profit of 2.9 trillion yen for fiscal year 2025. This performance was largely propelled by valuation gains from its OpenAI stake. The company's net asset value climbed to 33.3 trillion yen, or 36.2 trillion yen on a proforma basis.

Over the past twelve months, SoftBank's stock has been a standout performer in Japan's technology sector, appreciating by nearly 82 percent. It currently trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.04.

Upcoming Quarterly Earnings

Market attention now turns to SoftBank's upcoming third-quarter earnings report, due on February 12. The financial statements are expected at 3:30 PM local time, followed by a presentation for investors at 4:30 PM Japan Standard Time. Shareholders will be keen to see the tangible impact of the company's recent AI-focused investments on its latest balance sheet.