SoftBank Reshapes Vision Fund Strategy with Deep AI Focus After Strong Quarter

SoftBank Group is slashing 20% of its Vision Fund workforce globally, marking the third round of layoffs since 2022. This strategic pivot comes despite the fund's strongest quarterly performance in over two years, driven by gains in holdings like Nvidia and Coupang. Founder Masayoshi Son is reallocating resources toward concentrated, high-stakes AI investments—including a $500 billion U.S. data center initiative with OpenAI—while retreating from scattered startup bets.

The cuts eliminate 60+ positions from a 300-person team, reflecting a fundamental shift in philosophy. 'We're pursuing bold, high-conviction bets in transformative AI,' a spokesperson stated, underscoring the MOVE away from the fund's earlier 'spray-and-pray' approach to venture investing. This recalibration follows painful lessons from high-profile failures like WeWork, which forced asset sales and operational contraction to regain investor trust.

Market observers note the timing reveals intentionality: Rather than retrenching from weakness, SoftBank is doubling down on AI dominance from a position of strength. The Vision Fund's renewed capital discipline mirrors broader industry trends favoring concentrated exposure to infrastructure-layer AI plays over speculative early-stage gambling.