SoftBank Doubles Down: $33B Gambit Positions OpenAI as Kingmaker of ’Superintelligence’
SoftBank just placed the biggest bet in AI history—and the house always wins.
The Japanese conglomerate is throwing $33 billion behind OpenAI, a move that reeks of either visionary genius or Masayoshi Son's trademark 'spray-and-pray' strategy. Remember WeWork?
The Superintelligence Arms Race Heats Up
This isn't just funding—it's a power play. That $33 billion war chest could buy OpenAI another five years of runway... or three months at Silicon Valley burn rates.
Wall Street Rolls Its Eyes
Investors are split: either SoftBank's timing is impeccable (Nvidia's chips are getting cheaper!) or they're overpaying for hype. Again. Their Vision Fund portfolio reads like a graveyard of 'next big things.'
The closer? When the AI bubble pops, at least the margin calls will be automated.
TLDRs;
- SoftBank has pledged $33.2 billion to OpenAI as part of its bold strategy to dominate the AI landscape.
- Masayoshi Son revealed he missed a chance to back OpenAI in 2019, a mistake he now seeks to correct with this major investment.
- The company’s broader plan includes leveraging chipmakers Arm and Ampere to control key AI infrastructure layers.
- Son envisions artificial superintelligence far beyond current capabilities and believes the AI race will crown only a few global winners.
SoftBank has unveiled one of the boldest bets in artificial intelligence history, committing $33.2 billion to OpenAI as part of a sweeping strategy to lead the future of AI-driven technology.
Speaking during SoftBank’s annual general meeting in Tokyo on June 27, CEO Masayoshi Son framed the MOVE as a cornerstone of his long-term vision to build a world powered by what he calls “artificial superintelligence.”
Son doubles down on AI vision
Notably, Masayoshi Son told shareholders that SoftBank is “all in” on OpenAI. For Son, the investment is more than just capital. It represents a strategic shift, positioning SoftBank as a central player in an AI future that he says will be defined by technology thousands of times smarter than humans.
He believes OpenAI, the Maker of ChatGPT, is uniquely placed to lead this revolution and even hinted that the company could go public, which would significantly increase its market value and global influence.
In a candid moment, Son acknowledged a missed opportunity from years prior. Before 2019, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had approached SoftBank seeking $10 billion in funding. That deal never materialized. Instead, OpenAI found its biggest backer in Microsoft, which has since invested over $13 billion. Son’s latest commitment seems partly aimed at reclaiming a position that might have slipped through SoftBank’s fingers. The Japanese conglomerate is now determined to not just catch up, but leap ahead.
Ties with Arm and Ampere bolster AI push
SoftBank’s push toward AI leadership is not limited to OpenAI. Son emphasized the critical role of British chipmaker Arm, which SoftBank owns, in enabling advanced AI systems. Arm’s power-efficient chips are used in devices worldwide and are increasingly vital in AI hardware infrastructure.
Additionally, SoftBank’s $6.5 billion acquisition of US chip designer Ampere reflects a broader ambition to control more layers of the AI stack. The combined strength of OpenAI’s software and Arm’s hardware, Son argues, puts SoftBank in a position to shape the future of computing.
Superintelligence and the race for dominance
Son’s ambition goes beyond artificial general intelligence. He envisions artificial superintelligence, technology that exceeds human capability by a factor of 10,000. Comparing this to the scale of dominance held by Amazon, Google, and Microsoft in their respective domains, Son said the AI race will be winner-takes-all. To secure a leading role, SoftBank is betting not just on one company, but on an ecosystem of AI infrastructure, from chips to algorithms.
