SoftBank's Ambitious $100 Billion Investment Plan for the US

SoftBank's CEO Masayoshi Son has announced a significant plan to invest $100 billion in the United States, aiming to create at least 100,000 jobs within the next four years. This announcement was made during an event with president-elect Donald Trump, who described the investment as a "historic investment". Trump emphasized that this move reflects strong confidence in America's future and will contribute to the growth of key industries, including artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

This commitment is not a new concept for Son, who previously pledged $50 billion to invest in the U.S. during Trump’s first term. Now, with Trump gearing up for a second term, Son stated that he is "doubling down" on his investment plans.

While discussing this investment, Trump jokingly suggested the possibility of increasing the investment to $200 billion. Son responded to this jest, indicating that he would "try to make it happen." However, he has not yet provided specific details on how the proposed $100 billion will be allocated.

One area of focus, as suggested by Trump, is artificial intelligence. SoftBank aims to take advantage of the growing AI sector, which has become a focal point for technology investment. The conglomerate has a notable history of backing innovative technology companies, such as the acquisition of British chip designer Arm Holdings in 2016, before it was listed again on NASDAQ in early 2023.

Earlier this year, Son spoke at SoftBank World, predicting that a major technological breakthrough—referred to as the singularity—could be near. He anticipates that artificial general intelligence may be achieved within the next decade, with Arm playing a crucial role in making this a reality.

SoftBank has made several significant investments in AI-related companies. Notably, it recently acquired British chip designer Graphcore, strengthening its push to become a powerhouse in the AI chip market, competing against giants like Nvidia.

In November, SoftBank announced plans to build Japan's "most powerful AI supercomputer" using the latest Nvidia accelerators. Additionally, it invested $1.5 billion into OpenAI, a well-known AI model builder. Furthermore, these U.S. investments could involve the construction of extensive AI data centers, which have become increasingly important as demand for processing power rises.

Over the past year, various companies involved in GPU operations, such as CoreWeave and Lambda, have secured billions in funding to build facilities equipped with thousands of processors. These operations are currently showing favorable returns on investment.

Despite the ambitious nature of these plans, not all of SoftBank's investments have been successful. For instance, the company faced significant losses after investing in WeWork, which ultimately filed for bankruptcy. Consequently, while Son's current promise of $100 billion in U.S. investments looks optimistic, the outcome remains uncertain.

Investment, Jobs, AI