SoftBank shifts focus to AI and next-generation chips

Masayoshi Son, founder and CEO of SoftBank, has indicated his readiness to pass the leadership baton after decades at the helm. Speaking to shareholders in Tokyo, the 67-year-old entrepreneur said he had mentally prepared to step aside and had already identified internal candidates.

However, he noted that revealing a successor prematurely could affect dynamics within the company.
While succession planning is underway, Son focuses on positioning SoftBank as a global leader in artificial superintelligence (ASI).

The company is pursuing aggressive investments, including a proposed $30 billion stake in OpenAI, the acquisition of UK-based Graphcore, and a potential purchase of US firm Ampere Computing.

Plans are also in motion to build a central tech hub in Arizona, modelled on Shenzhen, featuring advanced chip infrastructure and a possible partnership with TSMC.

SoftBank’s reach extends well beyond the US and Japan. India has invested over $10 billion across 24 companies, including Paytm, Ola Electric, and Swiggy. These ventures have spurred rapid growth and successful IPOs, reinforcing SoftBank’s influence over the country’s digital economy.

Shareholder confidence plays a crucial role in sustaining SoftBank’s bold innovation strategy. Many Japanese retail investors have remained loyal for decades, drawn by Son’s enduring vision and the promise of future breakthroughs.

With AI now firmly at the centre of SoftBank’s roadmap, the company is betting big on a future it hopes to shape.

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