SoftBank launches GPU rental (rent-a-GPU) service, leveraging its 10 GW planned US AI server farm to compete with hyperscaler training infrastructure.

SoftBank is entering the neocloud business in the United States, positioning itself to provide GPU resources to hyperscalers and other customers seeking a platform for AI training. The company will establish a new entity called SB Neo, Inc to operate this business, with operations expected to commence in fiscal 2027 (ending March 31, 2028).

The ownership structure splits the venture between SoftBank Corp (51 percent) and SoftBank Group Corp (49 percent), with SB Neo operating as a consolidated subsidiary of SoftBank Corp, which is itself 40 percent owned by SoftBank Group Corp.

Neocloud operators, or GPU rental providers, have emerged to capture demand for compute resources powered by GPU accelerators. These specialized cloud platforms focus exclusively on AI services. However, McKinsey & Company cautioned in a recent report that the neocloud business model is inherently fragile due to commoditization—limited differentiation exists in renting access to specific hardware.

SoftBank Corp has been offering a beta version of its GPU cloud service in Japan since May, powered by "Infrinia AI Cloud OS," a software stack developed by its internal Infrinia team. The platform supports Kubernetes-as-a-Service (KaaS) in multi-tenant environments and Inference-as-a-Service (InfaaS) to deliver large language model inference capabilities via APIs. The company plans to apply expertise gained from the Japanese rollout to its US operations.

SoftBank also disclosed plans to construct gigawatt-scale AI datacenters in Japan once preparations are complete. Chief Executive Masayoshi Son stated: "The SoftBank Group will work together to deploy world-class AI infrastructure and drive the AI revolution."

Investment figures were not disclosed, though reports indicate SoftBank Group has engaged lenders to secure a $10 billion loan backed by its stake in OpenAI. Lenders initially resisted the transaction, but SoftBank has now offered to guarantee repayment, providing banks recourse should the pledged OpenAI shares decline in value. Son recently assured shareholders that criticism of AI as a bubble is "an insult to AI" and constitutes "blasphemy," though OpenAI CEO Sam Altman himself has acknowledged the sector is experiencing a bubble.