In a world racing towards the future of technology, few names have made as much impact as Masayoshi Son, the visionary founder and CEO of SoftBank. At a recent company event, Son made headlines by revealing his latest and most ambitious goal yet — to make SoftBank the global leader in Artificial Superintelligence (ASI). This move signals a massive leap beyond traditional AI, with bold implications for the future of humanity and business.
In this article, we’ll explore what artificial superintelligence is, why Masayoshi Son is betting everything on it, and how SoftBank plans to lead the next major revolution in technology.
Artificial Superintelligence refers to a level of artificial intelligence that surpasses human intelligence in every possible field — from science and mathematics to emotional intelligence and decision-making. Unlike today’s AI, which is narrow and designed for specific tasks (like voice assistants or recommendation algorithms), ASI would have the ability to learn, adapt, and outperform humans across all domains.
Son described ASI as “the last invention” humans will ever need to make — because ASI would be capable of inventing on its own, solving the world’s most complex problems.
At the SoftBank World 2025 conference in Tokyo, Son, 66, addressed employees and shareholders with his signature enthusiasm. He declared:
“This is the first time in a long while I am back at full power. I am determined to make SoftBank the number one company in artificial superintelligence.”
This wasn’t just corporate hype. Son has been relatively quiet in recent years following financial setbacks from investments in companies like WeWork and the broader tech market decline. However, with renewed energy and purpose, he laid out a multi-decade roadmap that could redefine SoftBank’s identity and reshape the global tech industry.
Son explained that AI development happens in three major stages:
SoftBank has already made significant strides in ANI through its massive investments in AI chipmakers, robotics, and software platforms. Now, Son wants to skip ahead and start laying the foundation for ASI.
One of the key assets Son pointed to is Arm Holdings, a chip design company in which SoftBank holds a major stake. Arm’s energy-efficient processors are used in 99% of the world’s smartphones and play a critical role in powering AI applications.
Son said:
“Arm is the cornerstone of the ASI revolution. It will design the chips that power the brain of artificial superintelligence.”
He believes Arm will become the central nervous system of future AI systems — an essential infrastructure for building machines that think faster and better than humans. SoftBank’s long-term plan includes increasing its stake in Arm and driving innovation in chip design specifically suited for ASI workloads.
To turn this vision into reality, Son revealed plans for a new investment fund focused entirely on artificial superintelligence. While details are limited, insiders suggest it will follow the model of the previous $100 billion Vision Fund — but this time with an even sharper focus on ASI technologies.
The fund will likely invest in startups working on:
This fund could become the financial engine behind the next wave of AI breakthroughs, attracting top researchers, entrepreneurs, and technologists from around the world.
Son argues that now is the right time to focus on artificial superintelligence for three reasons:
This convergence of computing power, data availability, and algorithmic progress makes the pursuit of ASI not just possible, but inevitable, in Son’s eyes.
While the excitement is real, Son is not blind to the dangers. Artificial superintelligence, if misused or misunderstood, could pose risks to humanity. Son spoke about the importance of AI alignment, ethics, and governance:
“We must build superintelligence that is good for humanity — not a threat. This is our responsibility.”
He encouraged regulators and global institutions to work together with companies to ensure ASI development is aligned with human values and safety. SoftBank aims to invest in not only the tech side but also the ethical frameworks that will guide its use.
Son didn’t just talk dreams — he outlined a concrete plan to win the global race to artificial superintelligence:
SoftBank is launching global recruitment campaigns to attract the best minds in AI, physics, neuroscience, and ethics. Son believes that breakthroughs will come from interdisciplinary collaboration.
SoftBank will expand partnerships with universities, research labs, and tech companies worldwide to pool knowledge, share data, and accelerate ASI progress.
While most companies focus on quarterly profits, SoftBank is positioning itself as a 100-year company, investing in future technologies that may take decades to fully develop but will change humanity forever.
SoftBank will invest heavily in AI alignment research, making sure ASI develops in a way that benefits everyone — not just shareholders or governments.
Son’s announcement has already sent ripples through the tech and investment communities. Some see it as a return to form for one of the boldest thinkers in Silicon Valley. Others are cautious, recalling previous over-promises around WeWork and other startups.
However, this time may be different. The rise of generative AI, such as ChatGPT and others, has proven that rapid shifts in AI capabilities are not only possible but already happening. Son’s gamble on artificial superintelligence might just be the next big leap.
If successful, SoftBank could transform from a telecom-investment giant to the global architect of a post-human future where machines solve problems that once seemed impossible.
Masayoshi Son’s renewed commitment to artificial superintelligence is more than a business strategy — it’s a vision for humanity’s next chapter. In placing ASI at the center of SoftBank’s future, he is challenging the world to think bigger, act bolder, and prepare for a reality where machines not only work with us but possibly think for us.
Whether this vision becomes reality remains to be seen. But if history is any guide, underestimating Masayoshi Son might be the real mistake.
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