Nov 13, V7N-Nvidia and SoftBank Corp announced on Wednesday the successful pilot of the world’s first telecom network that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) with 5G technology. Known as an Artificial Intelligence Radio Access Network (AI-RAN), this innovative system allows AI and 5G workloads to operate simultaneously, paving the way for advanced applications in industries like autonomous vehicles and robotics.

The AI-RAN technology aims to transform telecommunications by enabling groundbreaking use cases such as remote support for self-driving cars and enhanced robotics control. This marks a significant leap in how networks can support high-performance AI-driven applications.

Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank Group, praised the project, emphasizing its game-changing potential for the telecom sector. "Every other telco will have to follow this new wave," Son remarked during an AI-focused event, sharing the stage with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.

Jensen Huang revealed that SoftBank was the first recipient of Nvidia’s latest Blackwell chip designs. These chips are integral to the AI supercomputer that SoftBank is building to develop its proprietary generative AI model.

This collaboration between Nvidia and SoftBank represents a significant milestone in integrating AI capabilities with telecom infrastructure, signaling a shift that other telecom operators are likely to follow.

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