SoftBank is gearing up to lead the era of artificial super intelligence (ASI), asserts its CEO, Masayoshi Son. Based in Japan, the conglomerate sets its sights on becoming the chief organizer of the global AI platform, within a decade. This ambition extends to establishing dominance in a sector compared to the “winner takes all” paradigm seen with tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon.
ASI posits a software-based intelligence surpassing human intellect. It entails unparalleled cognitive capabilities. For SoftBank, this journey begins with strategic ties to OpenAI and Arm, acknowledged crucial for its AI platform vision. The collaborative Stargate Project involves heavyweights like Oracle, Microsoft, and NVIDIA, aimed at developing a $500 billion AI infrastructure. The plan includes setting up extensive AI data centers across the U.S. to facilitate large-scale AI model training.
Stargate’s grand design reflects an understanding of increasing demands from sectors like automation and medicine, necessitating ample computing power. Initial funding for the project comes to $100 billion, showcasing a strong commitment. Meanwhile, SoftBank eyes a $25 billion investment into OpenAI, positioning the company as a dominant force in generative AI.
In another strategic move, SoftBank announced plans to acquire Ampere Computing in a $6.5 billion cash deal. Ampere specializes in designing silicon chips for high-performance computing. This acquisition is expected to bolster SoftBank’s AI capabilities, given the crucial role of advanced semiconductors in AI development. Completion of the acquisition is anticipated in late 2025, pending regulatory approvals.
