{"version":1,"type":"story","url":"https://digestai.news/story/softbank-reportedly-plans-50-billion-ai-and-data-center-investment-in","json":"https://digestai.news/story/softbank-reportedly-plans-50-billion-ai-and-data-center-investment-in.json","markdown":"https://digestai.news/story/softbank-reportedly-plans-50-billion-ai-and-data-center-investment-in.md","slug":"softbank-reportedly-plans-50-billion-ai-and-data-center-investment-in","headline":"SoftBank reportedly plans $50 billion AI and data center investment in Malaysia","summary":"SoftBank Group Corp. is said to be preparing a $50 billion investment programme in Malaysia, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced, citing a Bloomberg report. The plan, discussed in a video conference between Anwar and SoftBank chief Masayoshi Son, would target artificial‑intelligence projects, new technologies and data‑center construction in locations such as Kuching, Sarawak and peninsular Malaysia.\n\nMalaysia’s push to become an “AI nation” by 2030 underpins the move, with the government having launched a national AI action plan earlier this year. SoftBank has already signed a framework agreement with Singapore‑based Grab and Malaysia’s Petroleum Sarawak Berhad to explore AI and digital‑infrastructure development in Sarawak, including AI computing services. The country is already attracting major cloud players: Google announced a $2 billion data‑center project in 2024, Amazon Web Services plans $6.2 billion through 2038, and Microsoft pledged $2.2 billion for cloud and AI infrastructure. Data‑center‑related investments totalled 385.7 billion ringgit (about $94 billion) from 2021 to mid‑2026, according to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority. SoftBank did not comment to CNBC.","keyPoints":["SoftBank plans $50 billion AI, tech and data‑center investments in Malaysia, per Bloomberg.","Investments will focus on AI, new technologies and data centres in Kuching, Sarawak and peninsular Malaysia.","Malaysia recorded 385.7 billion ringgit ($94 billion) in data‑center investments from 2021 to early 2026."],"whyItMatters":"The pledge could accelerate Malaysia’s AI ecosystem, attract further foreign tech spending and reshape regional data‑center capacity, influencing global AI infrastructure supply chains.","category":{"slug":"business","name":"Business & Funding","url":"https://digestai.news/category/business"},"entities":{"companies":["SoftBank Group","Grab","Petroleum Sarawak Berhad","Google","Amazon Web Services","Microsoft"],"models":[],"people":["Masayoshi Son","Anwar Ibrahim"]},"firstPublishedAt":"2026-10-26T04:56:16Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-26T04:56:16Z","sourceCount":1,"hasPrimarySource":false,"sources":[{"outlet":"CNBC Technology","title":"SoftBank reportedly plans $50 billion tech investment in aspiring 'AI nation' Malaysia","url":"https://cnbc.com/2026/10/26/softbank-masayoshi-son-malaysia-ai-billions.html","publishedAt":"2026-10-26T04:56:16Z","type":"press","primary":false,"lead":true}],"sourceNotes":null,"discussions":[],"thread":null,"cite":{"text":"Digest AI, \"SoftBank reportedly plans $50 billion AI and data center investment in Malaysia\", 26 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/softbank-reportedly-plans-50-billion-ai-and-data-center-investment-in","publisher":"Digest AI","title":"SoftBank reportedly plans $50 billion AI and data center investment in Malaysia","datePublished":"2026-10-26T04:56:16Z","url":"https://digestai.news/story/softbank-reportedly-plans-50-billion-ai-and-data-center-investment-in"},"generatedBy":"Written by Digest AI's editorial model from the linked sources; the sources are the record.","license":"Headlines, digests and key points are written by Digest AI and may be quoted with a link to the story page. Linked articles belong to their publishers. Terms: https://digestai.news/terms#reuse"}