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SoftBank Sets Ambitious AI Expansion Plan, Targets $64.6 B OpenAI Investment and Global Data Centers
SoftBank Group Corp. unveiled a sweeping AI strategy at its annual shareholders’ meeting in Tokyo on June 24, positioning the conglomerate to dominate the next wave of artificial super‑intelligence. Chairman and CEO Masayoshi Son laid out a four‑fold focus—AI models, chips, infrastructure, and robots—while confirming his intention to steer the company for the next decade.
The centerpiece of the plan is a deepening partnership with OpenAI, the U.S. firm behind ChatGPT. Son said SoftBank’s stake will grow to $64.6 billion by October of this year, a move that cements the group’s presence across the entire AI value chain. The investment is part of a broader push to secure a foothold in AI software and to leverage OpenAI’s cutting‑edge models.
Beyond software, SoftBank is expanding its physical AI footprint. The group is constructing data centers in the United States and Europe, with a new GPU‑cloud service slated for launch in October 2026. Powered by Infrinia AI Cloud OS, the offering will fall under SoftBank’s Neocloud business and is designed to support AI model development, inference, and large‑scale data processing.
To power these facilities, SoftBank Corp., a subsidiary, is negotiating a capital alliance with Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. The partnership would boost Japan’s power capacity, enabling the conglomerate to bring AI data centers to the country. Reports indicate the alliance would provide the necessary electrical infrastructure for large‑scale AI workloads.
SoftBank’s robotics arm has also entered mass production. Son announced that a dedicated factory has already begun producing physical AI robots, and a formal launch announcement is expected soon. The company has taken stakes in several robotics firms to develop AI‑powered robots for commercial use, signaling a move beyond soft‑tech into tangible products.
Financially, the strategy is already bearing fruit. SoftBank Group’s net profit for the fiscal year ending March 2026 surged more than fourfold to 5 trillion yen ($31 billion), setting a record high for the conglomerate. The profit jump reflects the company’s aggressive investment strategy and the growing demand for AI infrastructure.
Looking ahead, SoftBank will continue to broaden its AI portfolio. In October 2026, the AI‑data‑center GPU cloud will go live, and the group is pursuing additional data‑center projects in the United States, Europe, and France. In France, SoftBank has committed up to €75 billion for facilities that could add up to 5 GW of capacity.
In summary, SoftBank is positioning itself as a global leader in AI models, chips, infrastructure, and robotics. With a $64.6 billion stake in OpenAI, a new GPU‑cloud service slated for launch in October 2026, and a growing network of data centers, the company aims to sustain its leadership under Masayoshi Son’s extended tenure.
Over the next few months, SoftBank’s AI‑data‑center GPU cloud will go live, the formal announcement of its mass‑produced robots will be made, and the power‑capacity agreement with Tokyo Electric Power Company will be completed. These developments will further solidify SoftBank’s role in the AI ecosystem and could influence the pace of AI adoption worldwide.
The centerpiece of the plan is a deepening partnership with OpenAI, the U.S. firm behind ChatGPT. Son said SoftBank’s stake will grow to $64.6 billion by October of this year, a move that cements the group’s presence across the entire AI value chain. The investment is part of a broader push to secure a foothold in AI software and to leverage OpenAI’s cutting‑edge models.
Beyond software, SoftBank is expanding its physical AI footprint. The group is constructing data centers in the United States and Europe, with a new GPU‑cloud service slated for launch in October 2026. Powered by Infrinia AI Cloud OS, the offering will fall under SoftBank’s Neocloud business and is designed to support AI model development, inference, and large‑scale data processing.
To power these facilities, SoftBank Corp., a subsidiary, is negotiating a capital alliance with Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. The partnership would boost Japan’s power capacity, enabling the conglomerate to bring AI data centers to the country. Reports indicate the alliance would provide the necessary electrical infrastructure for large‑scale AI workloads.
SoftBank’s robotics arm has also entered mass production. Son announced that a dedicated factory has already begun producing physical AI robots, and a formal launch announcement is expected soon. The company has taken stakes in several robotics firms to develop AI‑powered robots for commercial use, signaling a move beyond soft‑tech into tangible products.
Financially, the strategy is already bearing fruit. SoftBank Group’s net profit for the fiscal year ending March 2026 surged more than fourfold to 5 trillion yen ($31 billion), setting a record high for the conglomerate. The profit jump reflects the company’s aggressive investment strategy and the growing demand for AI infrastructure.
Looking ahead, SoftBank will continue to broaden its AI portfolio. In October 2026, the AI‑data‑center GPU cloud will go live, and the group is pursuing additional data‑center projects in the United States, Europe, and France. In France, SoftBank has committed up to €75 billion for facilities that could add up to 5 GW of capacity.
In summary, SoftBank is positioning itself as a global leader in AI models, chips, infrastructure, and robotics. With a $64.6 billion stake in OpenAI, a new GPU‑cloud service slated for launch in October 2026, and a growing network of data centers, the company aims to sustain its leadership under Masayoshi Son’s extended tenure.
Over the next few months, SoftBank’s AI‑data‑center GPU cloud will go live, the formal announcement of its mass‑produced robots will be made, and the power‑capacity agreement with Tokyo Electric Power Company will be completed. These developments will further solidify SoftBank’s role in the AI ecosystem and could influence the pace of AI adoption worldwide.
