{"text":[[{"start":16.48,"text":"SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son is pushing the idea of a vast $1tn artificial intelligence and robotics complex in the US state of Arizona that could include the establishment of a free-trade zone and the involvement of the world’s biggest chipmaker, TSMC."}],[{"start":35.71,"text":"The plan, which Son has raised with US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, is aimed at bringing high-tech manufacturing into the country at scale, said three people familiar with the concept, which was first reported by Bloomberg."}],[{"start":52.510000000000005,"text":"SoftBank officials have also discussed it with local and federal politicians in an effort to secure tax breaks, according to the same people."}],[{"start":61.99000000000001,"text":"The final size of the project, if approved, may vary significantly, depending on the level of interest from tech groups, the people warned."}],[{"start":72.13000000000001,"text":"SoftBank and TSMC declined to comment. Lutnick did not respond to a request for comment."}],[{"start":79.21000000000001,"text":"The Arizona concept is the latest large-scale, creative plan to be promoted by the SoftBank chief. He has already pledged $500bn to the Stargate project to scale up US data centres and artificial intelligence infrastructure with OpenAI, Oracle and Abu Dhabi’s MGX."}],[{"start":99.4,"text":"Stargate funding is coming from project finance, a model that could be repeated if his latest venture comes to fruition."}],[{"start":107.89,"text":"Son has staked his reputation on AI and built a web of partnerships and capital stakes with companies including Nvidia and OpenAI, as well as a host of smaller companies through the group’s Vision Fund investment vehicles. He hopes to leverage many of these in the new project."}],[{"start":125.47,"text":"The SoftBank chief has also remained close to President Donald Trump. He was one of the first foreign visitors to Mar-a-Lago, the president’s Florida home, following his re-election and is spending large amounts of time in the US."}],[{"start":139.97,"text":"A person familiar with the matter said TSMC had yet to be formally approached about the plan."}],[{"start":147.1,"text":"The Taiwanese chipmaker has a massive US investment plan in place and is beginning mass production of advanced chips in Arizona this year."}],[{"start":157.07999999999998,"text":"Another person said Son had floated the idea of free-trade zones in various US states to encourage investment from countries such as Taiwan, suggesting the already ambitious Arizona plan could be replicated if successful."}],[{"start":173.61999999999998,"text":"Son has also suggested various iterations of a joint US-Japan investment vehicle to make large-scale plays in tech and infrastructure across the US."}],[{"start":194.64999999999998,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftmailbox.cn/album/a_1750636191_7988.mp3"}