SoftBank Sets Sights on Becoming the Top Platform for Artificial Super Intelligence
SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son has unveiled his most ambitious vision yet—positioning SoftBank as the world’s leading platform provider for artificial superintelligence (ASI) within the next decade.
Speaking at SoftBank’s annual shareholder meeting on Friday, Son said, “We want to become the organiser of the industry in the artificial superintelligence era.”
He compared his long-term vision to the dominance held by platform giants such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Google’s parent company, Alphabet, all of whom have benefited from a “winner-takes-all” effect in the tech ecosystem.
What Is Artificial Superintelligence (ASI)?
Son defines artificial superintelligence as a form of AI that exceeds human intelligence by a factor of 10,000. Unlike current generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, ASI is expected to surpass human capabilities in reasoning, learning, decision-making, and innovation, revolutionising every aspect of society.
SoftBank’s Return to Bold AI Investments
After a period of scaled-back spending, SoftBank has returned to aggressive investments in AI-related technologies, reminiscent of its early gamble on Alibaba—a deal that cemented Son’s reputation as a high-risk, high-reward visionary.
Key SoftBank AI investments in 2024–2025 include:
- $6.5 billion acquisition of U.S. chip designer Ampere, which builds high-performance, energy-efficient processors ideal for AI workloads.
- A commitment of up to $40 billion in new investment in OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT.
Son revealed that SoftBank’s total agreed investment in OpenAI now stands at $32 billion, dating back to its initial investment in Autumn 2024.
“I regret not investing earlier in OpenAI,” Son told shareholders. He also expressed optimism that OpenAI will eventually go public.
Why SoftBank Wants to Lead in Artificial Super Intelligence
Masayoshi Son’s plan to dominate the ASI space reflects a larger trend in the tech industry, where custom chip development, massive compute resources, and AI research leadership are the new battlegrounds. By taking a proactive role, SoftBank aims to:
- Reduce reliance on U.S. tech giants
- Build proprietary AI infrastructure
- Shape future global standards for ASI development
- Unlock trillion-dollar markets across healthcare, finance, robotics, and more
Final Thoughts
SoftBank’s ambition to lead the artificial superintelligence revolution signals a new strategic era for the Japanese conglomerate, one that prioritises AI infrastructure, bold acquisitions, and partnerships with global leaders like OpenAI.
If Son’s predictions prove accurate, SoftBank could become the Microsoft of the ASI era, establishing a dominant platform in one of the most transformative technologies of the century.
