Masayoshi Son Outlines Ambitious Decade-Long Vision
SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son unveiled a bold ambition during the company's latest annual shareholder meeting: to make SoftBank the world’s leading platform provider for artificial super intelligence within the next ten years. Drawing inspiration from dominant tech giants such as
Google,
Microsoft, and
Amazon, Son envisions SoftBank assuming a pivotal organizing role in a future shaped by unfathomably powerful AI.
Defining Artificial Super Intelligence
Son described artificial super intelligence as technology that can exceed human capabilities by as much as 10,000 times, marking a new era in innovation and productivity. He emphasized that this not only represents a leap in computational power but will also serve as a foundation for the next generation of transformative business and societal advancements[2][4].
Massive Investments Signal SoftBank’s Commitment
To achieve this ambitious goal, SoftBank is making strategic investments on an unprecedented scale:
- The acquisition of U.S. semiconductor design company Ampere for $6.5 billion provides the foundational hardware power necessary for next-generation AI development[1][5].
- SoftBank is underwriting investments in OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, with a total commitment reaching up to $40 billion, and $32 billion already agreed[1][5].
- Masayoshi Son affirmed his unwavering support for OpenAI, expressing confidence in the company’s prospects for a public listing. He stated: “I’m all in on OpenAI.”[1]
Adopting a ‘Winner Takes All’ Strategy
Son’s vision is to emulate successful technology platform providers who have benefited from strong network effects and market dominance. By targeting the ‘winner takes all’ dynamic seen in the tech industry, SoftBank positions itself at the forefront of the impending artificial super intelligence revolution[4][5].
Reviving Aggressive Tech Investment Roots
This move signals a return to SoftBank's aggressive investment approach that led to past successes like Alibaba—while acknowledging the risks, as seen with previous high-profile setbacks such as WeWork. The combination of calculated risk-taking and record-setting funding underscores SoftBank’s determination to lead the AI sector for the coming decade[1][5].
Looking Forward
With its multi-billion dollar investments in both hardware and leading AI platforms, SoftBank aims to become not just a participant but the defining force of the artificial super intelligence era—reshaping global tech ecosystems and business landscapes.
