SoftBank is aggressively positioning itself to dominate the future of artificial superintelligence (ASI) as a premier platform provider, envisioning a world where AI surpasses human capabilities by a factor of 10,000. CEO Masayoshi Son has repeatedly stated his ambition for the company to become the leading "organiser of the industry in the artificial superintelligence era," likening this goal to the dominance of tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. SoftBank's strategy involves substantial investments in AI-related companies and infrastructure, particularly in OpenAI, with whom they have several ongoing partnerships.
Strategic Investments and Partnerships
SoftBank's commitment to ASI is underscored by its massive financial backing of OpenAI. As of June 2025, SoftBank's total investment in OpenAI has reached $32 billion, with plans to increase this to $40 billion. This makes SoftBank one of OpenAI's largest investors, surpassing even Microsoft. Son has expressed confidence in OpenAI's potential, anticipating that the company will eventually go public and become the most valuable company on Earth.
Beyond OpenAI, SoftBank is also investing in other AI-related ventures. In 2025, the company acquired US-based chip designer Ampere for $6.5 billion, signaling its intention to control key components of the AI infrastructure stack. SoftBank's Vision Fund, with $166 billion in assets under management, is also strategically pivoting towards major AI investments, targeting companies that develop cutting-edge technologies for automation, data analysis, and decision-making.
Building the Infrastructure for ASI
Recognizing that ASI requires robust infrastructure, SoftBank is heavily investing in data centers and AI computing platforms. The Stargate Project, a joint venture with OpenAI and Oracle, aims to invest up to $500 billion by 2029 to develop extensive AI capabilities, including the construction of data centers in the United States. SoftBank is also planning to transform a former Sharp LCD factory in Osaka into a large-scale data center for AI, with operations set to begin in 2026. This facility will be among Japan's largest, boasting a power capacity of 150 megawatts and supporting the training of AI models on client companies' data. To meet the growing computational demands of AI, SoftBank is expanding its AI computing platform infrastructure in Japan to ensure secure and efficient operations.
Becoming a Platform Provider
SoftBank's ambition extends beyond simply investing in AI companies and building infrastructure; the company aims to become a platform provider for ASI solutions. This involves creating an ecosystem where businesses can access and leverage advanced AI tools and technologies to improve their operations and create new products and services. In February 2025, SoftBank and OpenAI announced a partnership to develop and market Advanced Enterprise AI called "Cristal intelligence," which will securely integrate the systems and data of individual enterprises in a customized way. SoftBank Group Corp. will invest $3 billion annually to deploy OpenAI's solutions across its group companies, making it the first company in the world to integrate Cristal intelligence at scale.
Challenges and Considerations
While SoftBank's ambition to dominate the ASI landscape is bold, the company faces several challenges. The development of ASI is still in its early stages, and the timeline for achieving it remains uncertain. Ethical considerations surrounding ASI, such as safety, bias, and job displacement, need to be carefully addressed. The AI investment landscape is also shifting toward measurable returns, with investors increasingly prioritizing practical applications that deliver tangible business value.
Despite these challenges, SoftBank is committed to its vision of becoming a leading platform provider for ASI. The company's strategic investments, partnerships, and infrastructure development efforts position it to play a significant role in shaping the future of AI and its impact on society.
