TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — SoftBank Group founder Son Masayoshi is pitching a tie-up with TSMC on building an AI hub in Arizona with a potential investment of up to NT$29.56 trillion (US$1 trillion).

Citing sources close to Son, Bloomberg reports the billionaire hopes to build an industrial park akin to China’s massive manufacturing hub in Shenzhen. Sources said the park may include production lines for industrial AI robots.

SoftBank executives are eager to involve TSMC, a key manufacturer of advanced AI chips for Nvidia, as a major player in the project. However, it remains unclear what specific role Son envisions for TSMC.

TSMC already plans to invest NT$4.87 trillion in the US, and its first Arizona fab has entered mass production. It is not yet known whether TSMC is interested in SoftBank’s proposal. 

Codenamed “Project Crystal Land,” the proposed Arizona industrial park represents Son’s boldest undertaking to date. The 67-year-old SoftBank CEO has repeatedly expressed his desire to accelerate the development of AI.

Sources revealed that SoftBank executives have held discussions with US federal and state officials about offering tax incentives to companies that build facilities or invest in the park. US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick has also reportedly participated in the talks.

Son has approached several technology companies to gauge their interest in the project. The project has also been pitched to executives at South Korea’s Samsung Electronics, according to people familiar with the matter.

These remain preliminary plans, and their feasibility will depend on backing from the government and state-level officials. While Son’s vision could ultimately require as much as NT$29.56 trillion to realize, the ultimate scope of the project will depend on the level of interest from major tech players. 

If successful, Son has also proposed building multiple state-of-the-art industrial parks across the US.