SoftBank Seeks $100 Billion Gulf Investment to Expand AI Ventures

Image: Kavit Majithia · Source

SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son is pursuing up to $100 billion in funding from Gulf investors to advance the company’s AI initiatives, potentially creating a fund for acquisitions and operational improvements.

SoftBank Group founder and CEO Masayoshi Son is reportedly aiming to secure as much as $100 billion from investors in Gulf countries to significantly scale the company's artificial intelligence ambitions. Discussions are underway with senior officials in the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates, about establishing partnerships and fundraising efforts, though no deals have been finalized yet, and the specifics about investors remain confidential. The proposed funds would be used to create an acquisition-focused investment fund, intended to purchase companies and enhance their operations through AI and other advanced technologies. This initiative complements SoftBank's existing $65 billion investment in OpenAI. A key component in this strategy is SoftBank’s AI and robotics division, Roze, which is slated for a public offering and expected to be integral to this expansion. The push aligns with a broader Gulf region trend where nations like the UAE are actively investing in AI sectors to diversify their economies away from traditional industries. SoftBank has historical ties with Gulf investors, having collaborated with entities such as the UAE's Mubadala and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund on its original Vision Fund in 2017. While these developments signal an ambitious growth phase for SoftBank in AI, the outcomes of current talks and the realization of these investments remain unconfirmed.