SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son emphasized on Friday that the group’s mission is to advance humanity by realizing artificial superintelligence, which he predicts will surpass human capabilities by a factor of 10,000. Son described SoftBank’s past ventures as preliminary steps towards his ultimate goal of achieving this ambitious dream.
Known for his belief in the transformative power of new technologies, Son has built his reputation and fortune by investing in the proliferation of the internet and smartphones. At the meeting, he highlighted SoftBank’s current focus on combining robotics with artificial intelligence, aiming to revolutionize mass production, logistics, and autonomous driving.
Son acknowledged that achieving his vision for AI-powered robots will require substantial capital and collaboration with partners, as SoftBank cannot finance the endeavor alone. His reputation as a visionary investor has faced challenges, particularly after the performance of many tech startups backed by the Vision Fund faltered since 2021. Additionally, some of his predictions, such as the widespread adoption of “internet of things” technology, have not come to fruition.
However, the success of SoftBank subsidiary Arm, a British chip designer, has recently bolstered Son’s reputation. Since its public listing in September last year, Arm’s share price has surged, attracting investors interested in AI-linked firms. This surge has widened the gap between the value of SoftBank’s assets and its market capitalization.
In early June, it was reported that activist investor Elliott Management had acquired a stake worth over $2 billion in SoftBank and urged the company to implement a $15 billion share buyback to boost its share price. While Son stated that SoftBank is always open to buying back its shares, he mentioned that there are no immediate plans to do so. He also did not rule out the possibility of taking SoftBank private if its share price continues to significantly undervalue the group’s true worth, a move he has contemplated multiple times.
Son’s continued optimism and strategic focus on AI and robotics signal SoftBank’s commitment to driving innovation and maintaining its influence in the tech industry. Despite past setbacks, Son’s vision and the company’s substantial investments in emerging technologies suggest that SoftBank aims to remain at the forefront of technological advancements, contributing to the progress of humanity.
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