Speaking at SoftBank’s annual shareholder meeting, Son outlined a bold vision of positioning the company as the central organizer of the emerging ASI industry—a concept he describes as computers surpassing human capabilities by a factor of 10,000.
“We want to become the organiser of the industry in the artificial super intelligence era,” Son told shareholders. He argued that SoftBank is well-placed to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of this technology.
Son drew comparisons to the current dominance of major technology firms such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, which have leveraged their positions as essential platforms in a “winner takes all” market dynamic. He suggested SoftBank should aim for a similarly central role in the coming era of super-intelligent systems.
The SoftBank founder is known for making grand bets on the future of technology, including the company’s multibillion-dollar Vision Funds that have invested in startups ranging from AI developers to mobility companies. His latest comments indicate that SoftBank’s strategic focus may intensify around advanced AI technologies as competition heats up globally.
While Son has spoken in the past about the transformative potential of ASI, describing it as orders of magnitude more capable than human intelligence, this latest pledge offers the clearest timeline yet, setting a 10-year horizon for SoftBank’s goal to lead the field.
Industry analysts note that the race toward advanced AI is highly competitive, with tech giants and research labs around the world investing heavily in next-generation AI models, computing infrastructure, and specialized chips. Achieving a leading position in such a landscape would require significant technological breakthroughs and strategic partnerships.
Still, Son’s statement reflects his characteristic optimism about SoftBank’s role in shaping the future—and his readiness to stake out an early claim in what he believes will be the next major technological revolution.