SoftBank Boosts AI Investment 'Offense' After Shift From Crypto

Softbank Ups Its Multi-Billion Dollar AI Investment ‘Offense’ After Easing Off Blockchain

18 September 2023 09:28 UTC

SoftBank, the Japanese tech giant, is reportedly increasing its multi-billion-dollar investments in AI.
CEO Masayoshi Son shows interest in a strategic partnership with OpenAI and investment in Graphcore.
SoftBank's strategic shift from blockchain to AI underscores its commitment to stay ahead in tech investments.

SoftBank, the Japanese tech investment colossus, is reportedly increasing its multi-billion dollar investments in artificial intelligence (AI) following the successful listing of its Arm unit.

CEO Masayoshi Son is keen on investing tens of billions of dollars in AI and has expressed interest in a strategic partnership with OpenAI, the maker of AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT.

Softbank Going All Out on AI Bets

This move comes amid SoftBank’s strategic shift from “defense mode” to “offense mode,” a decision prompted by the excitement surrounding advances in AI.

Son, a self-proclaimed “heavy user” of ChatGPT, has been in regular contact with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The potential strategic partnership with OpenAI is not the only AI venture on SoftBank’s radar. The company has also shown preliminary interest in Graphcore, a UK-based AI chipmaker. However, Graphcore has denied any offers from SoftBank to buy the company.

Son is adamant that,

“AI is the biggest revolution in human history. I believe human revolution equals to AI, and we are now facing such a big revolution. I believe AI will change or will redefine all these industries; that’s how I interpret this era. So, I say the winners in AI will be winners in the future.”

SoftBank’s increased focus on AI investments comes after a successful IPO of its Arm unit, which secured a valuation of $54.5 billion, a significant increase from the $32 billion SoftBank paid to take the company private seven years ago.

Breaking Up With Crypto

While SoftBank is ramping up its investments in AI, it’s easing off investments in blockchain and cryptocurrency. The company has reportedly decided to step away from volatile crypto companies, especially after a painful year for the industry.

SoftBank’s Vision Fund 2 is home to most of the company’s crypto and blockchain portfolio companies. It has lost $16.7 billion since its inception in June 2019 on $49.9 billion invested, according to a February report. The company has lost $34.5 billion across its Vision Funds since the start of its fiscal year in April.

Crypto Funding Dries Up Amid AI Hype. Source: PitchBook / Bloomberg

As AI continues to attract investors, SoftBank’s strategic shift from blockchain to AI underscores the firm’s commitment to stay ahead with its tech investments.

The company’s decision to invest heavily in AI, particularly through potential partnerships with OpenAI and other AI ventures, is a testament to its belief in the transformative potential of AI technologies.

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