Artificial intelligenceAsahi Kasei, Fujitsu, Yaskawa Electric among more than 30 potential investorsSoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son is betting physical AI. (Photo by Yutaka Miyaguchi)NATSUKI YAMAMOTO and EMI OKADAMay 28, 2026 02:00 JSTTOKYO -- About 30 leading Japanese companies from a wide range of industries, including chemicals, robots, automobiles and electronics, are considering investing in a new SoftBank venture that seeks to develop domestic artificial intelligence, Nikkei has learned.