Not Nvidia, Microsoft, or Apple: SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son predicts this AI company will be world's most valuable
SoftBank
is 'all in' on ChatGPT-maker OpenAI. CEO and Founder
Masayoshi Son
said the company is betting heavily on the
artificial intelligence
startup, with planned investments worth 4.8 trillion Japanese yen (around $33.2 billion). Son said he believes OpenAI, currently unlisted and not profitable, will eventually become 'the most valuable company in the world.' Speaking at a shareholder meeting, Son said SoftBank's long-term goal is to play a leading role in the era of artificial superintelligence (ASI)—a concept he described as AI that is 10,000 times smarter than humans. The Japanese tech conglomerate has been expanding its partnership with
OpenAI
this year, including joining the $500 billion Stargate project.
When Sam Altman asked Softbank for $10 billion investment
During the meeting, Son also revealed that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had once asked SoftBank for a $10 billion investment before
Microsoft
signed its now well-known partnership with the AI firm. 'I said, yes, I would,' Son told shareholders. But Altman eventually went with Microsoft.
Microsoft recently lost its exclusive cloud provider status with OpenAI and hasn't approved a reported restructuring plan to make OpenAI a traditional for-profit company.
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Investment will continue, with or without Microsoft: Softbank CEO
Despite the changing relationship between Microsoft and OpenAI, Son said SoftBank's commitment remains firm. The company earlier stated it might reduce its stake if OpenAI doesn't restructure by December 31, but Son clarified on Friday that their support will continue 'regardless of what happens with Microsoft.'
Son says OpenAI is key to SoftBank's vision of building the world's largest ASI platform. He aims for the company to become the 'organizer of the industry in the artificial superintelligence era' within the next decade.
SoftBank owns Arm, the UK-based chip company, and recently acquired U.S.-based chip designer Ampere for $6.5 billion. It is also reportedly exploring the creation of a $1 trillion AI-focused industrial complex in the United States.
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