SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son is seeking up to $100 billion from Gulf investors to finance a new wave of artificial intelligence investments, as the Japanese technology conglomerate expands its exposure to the AI industry.
The proposed fundraising would support a new investment fund focused on acquiring established companies and improving their operations through AI, robotics and other advanced technologies. Rather than concentrating exclusively on funding technology start-ups, the strategy would target businesses where automation could increase productivity and potentially enhance valuations.
Son has reportedly held discussions with senior figures in the Gulf, including in the United Arab Emirates. However, the fundraising remains a proposal, and there is no guarantee that the talks will result in commitments of the anticipated size.
The initiative comes as SoftBank deepens its financial commitment to OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT. The company has committed tens of billions of dollars to the AI group, increasing its exposure to a sector that requires substantial capital for computing infrastructure, model development and commercial expansion.
SoftBank is also relying on external financing to support its investment ambitions. In September, it raised approximately $11.1 billion through a high-yield bond offering, adding to the funding sources available for its AI strategy. Greater reliance on debt, however, can increase financial risk if asset valuations fall or expected returns take longer to materialise.
Robotics is expected to play a role in the proposed fund’s strategy. SoftBank’s Roze business, which focuses on robotics and physical AI, could help modernise acquired companies by introducing automation into industrial, commercial and other operational processes. The exact structure and scope of the initiative have not been finalised publicly.
Gulf investors have previously provided substantial capital for SoftBank’s ambitions. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala were major participants in the original $100 billion Vision Fund launched in 2017. Gulf states have also expanded investments in AI infrastructure as they seek to diversify economies that remain heavily connected to energy markets.
For investors, the proposed fundraising highlights the growing competition to secure capital for AI and the possibility that the next phase of adoption will extend beyond software developers into traditional businesses. The opportunity will depend on whether AI can deliver measurable productivity improvements and whether the resulting financial gains justify acquisition prices and technology investment.
The key question is whether SoftBank can turn its large AI commitments into sustainable returns while managing financing costs, execution risks and the possibility that expectations for AI-driven growth have advanced faster than the underlying earnings.
