TOKYO — On August 4, 2026, SoftBank Corp. announced a strategic investment in Seven & i Holdings, the operator of 7-Eleven stores, as part of its efforts to build an artificial intelligence economic sphere. The move is aimed at harnessing extensive data from Japan's industrial and retail sectors to support new retail models integrating AI and robotics.

CEO Junichi Miyakawa stated that the investment will help SoftBank support a new form of retail powered by AI and robots, signaling a push towards innovation in the retail industry. This initiative is part of a broader string of partnerships designed to gather valuable industrial and retail data.

This development highlights SoftBank's commitment to expanding its AI capabilities by collaborating with key players in Japan's retail market.

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