SoftBank's $100 Billion AI Investment in the US: Ambitious Plans and Uncertain Outcomes

Why is tech giant SoftBank investing over $100 billion in the US?

BANGKOK (AP) -- Japanese tycoon Masayoshi Son and President-elect Donald Trump have announced plans for technology and telecoms giant SoftBank Group to invest $100 billion in projects in the United States over the coming four years. Trump said the investments in building artificial intelligence infrastructure would create 100,000 jobs, twice the 50,000 promised when Son pledged $50 billion in U.S. investments after Trump's victory in 2016. Son, a founder and CEO of SoftBank Group, is known for making bold choices that sometimes pay big and sometimes don't. SoftBank has investments in dozens of Silicon Valley startups, along with big companies like semiconductor design company Arm and Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. The stock market rally and craze for AI has boosted the value of its assets, but it's unclear whether its investments will create that many jobs. Who is Masayoshi Son? Son founded SoftBank in the 1980s, expanding it from a telecoms carrier to encompass renewable energy and technology ventures. A leading figure in Japan's business world, he was an early believer in the internet, pouring billions into Silicon Valley start-ups and other technology companies. Son comes from a humble background. While at the University of California, Berkeley, he invented a pocket translator that he sold for $1 million to Japanese electronics maker Sharp Corp. He has made a career of risk-taking, pushing adoption of broadband services when the internet was still relatively new in Japan. His $20 billion takeover of U.S. mobile phone carrier Sprint Nextel Corp. in 2012 was Japan's biggest foreign acquisition at the time. Son is philosophical about his missteps, such as SoftBank's $18.5 billion investment in co-working space provider WeWork, which sought bankruptcy protection last year. SoftBank also invested in the failed robot pizza-making company Zume. Son is canny: SoftBank-related spending on lobbying and donations to U.S. politicians and parties runs into the billions of dollars. And both times Trump was elected, Son was quick to show his support. What is SoftBank Group? SoftBank has benefitted in recent months from rising values of some investments, such as U.S.-based e-commerce company Coupang, Chinese mobility provider DiDi Global and Bytedance, the Chinese developer of TikTok. Son built his fortune on early investments in search engine Yahoo and China's Alibaba, an astute initial outlay of $20 million in what has become an e-commerce and financial empire with a market cap of more than $200 billion. SoftBank has investments in T-Mobile, Deutsche Telekom, Microsoft, Nvidia and ride-sharing platform Uber, among hundreds of other companies that it groups together in its Vision Funds. The Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund and Abu Dhabi national wealth fund are among the biggest investors in those funds. The hundreds of start-ups that have received SoftBank investments include Nuro, a robo-delivery company; the dog-walking app Wag; South Korean logistics company Coupang; the Southeast Asian ride-sharing app Grab; and the office messaging app Slack. After several rough years, SoftBank returned to profitability in the last quarter, helped by returns from its Vision Fund investments. A big factor? Royalties and licensing related to its holdings in the UK-based computer chip-designing company Arm, whose business spans smartphones, data centers, networking equipment, automotive, consumer electronic devices, and AI applications. Son is betting heavily on AI SoftBank investor presentations have sometimes featured images of a goose labeled "AI Revolution" laying golden eggs. Son has said he believes artificial intelligence will surpass human intelligence within a decade, affecting every industry, from transportation and pharmaceuticals to finance, manufacturing, logistics and others and that companies and people working with AI will be the leaders of the next 10 to 20 years. SoftBank's roughly 90% stake in Arm has positioned it well for expansion of AI applications since most mobile devices operate on Arm-based processors. Trump and Son said the $100 billion that SoftBank has promised to invest will go to building AI infrastructure, but the nature of that spending remains unclear. The eventual impact of AI on jobs remains an open question, but much of its infrastructure is based on energy-guzzling data processing centers that are likely to employ relatively few people once they are built. What about the jobs? Even if SoftBank actually invested the promised $50 billion last time Trump was headed to the White House, it's unclear how many jobs that created. Shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic complicated matters. Foxconn Technology Group, a Taiwan company best known for making Apple iPhones, won Trump's praise after saying in 2017 it would build a $10 billion complex employing 13,000 people in a small town just south of Milwaukee. But that investment was scaled back drastically. SoftBank itself says it had 65,352 employees as of March. Officials in Tokyo praised Son's initiative, viewing it as a goodwill gesture at a time of huge concern over whether Trump will impose blanket tariff hikes on imports from allies like Japan, as well as China. "Generally speaking, I believe expansion of investment through steady accumulation of efforts between Japanese and U.S. companies would help further strengthen Japan-U.S. economic ties, so I find it delightful," said Yoji Muto, Japan's Trade and Industry minister. ___ Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed.

Why is tech giant SoftBank investing over $100 billion in the US?

BANGKOK -- Japanese tycoon Masayoshi Son and President-elect Donald Trump have announced plans for technology and telecoms giant SoftBank Group to invest $100 billion in projects in the United States over the coming four years. Trump said the investments in building artificial intelligence infrastructure would create 100,000 jobs, twice the 50,000 promised when Son pledged $50 billion in U.S. investments after Trump's victory in 2016. Son, a founder and CEO of SoftBank Group, is known for making bold choices that sometimes pay big and sometimes don't. SoftBank has investments in dozens of Silicon Valley startups, along with big companies like semiconductor design company Arm and Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. The stock market rally and craze for AI has boosted the value of its assets, but it's unclear whether its investments will create that many jobs. Son founded SoftBank in the 1980s, expanding it from a telecoms carrier to encompass renewable energy and technology ventures. A leading figure in Japan's business world, he was an early believer in the internet, pouring billions into Silicon Valley start-ups and other technology companies. Son comes from a humble background. While at the University of California, Berkeley, he invented a pocket translator that he sold for $1 million to Japanese electronics maker Sharp Corp. He has made a career of risk-taking, pushing adoption of broadband services when the internet was still relatively new in Japan. His $20 billion takeover of U.S. mobile phone carrier Sprint Nextel Corp. in 2012 was Japan's biggest foreign acquisition at the time. Son is philosophical about his missteps, such as SoftBank's $18.5 billion investment in co-working space provider WeWork, which sought bankruptcy protection last year. SoftBank also invested in the failed robot pizza-making company Zume. Son is canny: SoftBank-related spending on lobbying and donations to U.S. politicians and parties runs into the billions of dollars. And both times Trump was elected, Son was quick to show his support. SoftBank has benefitted in recent months from rising values of some investments, such as U.S.-based e-commerce company Coupang, Chinese mobility provider DiDi Global and Bytedance, the Chinese developer of TikTok. Son built his fortune on early investments in search engine Yahoo and China's Alibaba, an astute initial outlay of $20 million in what has become an e-commerce and financial empire with a market cap of more than $200 billion. SoftBank has investments in T-Mobile, Deutsche Telekom, Microsoft, Nvidia and ride-sharing platform Uber, among hundreds of other companies that it groups together in its Vision Funds. The Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund and Abu Dhabi national wealth fund are among the biggest investors in those funds. The hundreds of start-ups that have received SoftBank investments include Nuro, a robo-delivery company; the dog-walking app Wag; South Korean logistics company Coupang; the Southeast Asian ride-sharing app Grab; and the office messaging app Slack. After several rough years, SoftBank returned to profitability in the last quarter, helped by returns from its Vision Fund investments. A big factor? Royalties and licensing related to its holdings in the UK-based computer chip-designing company Arm, whose business spans smartphones, data centers, networking equipment, automotive, consumer electronic devices, and AI applications. SoftBank investor presentations have sometimes featured images of a goose labeled "AI Revolution" laying golden eggs. Son has said he believes artificial intelligence will surpass human intelligence within a decade, affecting every industry, from transportation and pharmaceuticals to finance, manufacturing, logistics and others and that companies and people working with AI will be the leaders of the next 10 to 20 years. SoftBank's roughly 90% stake in Arm has positioned it well for expansion of AI applications since most mobile devices operate on Arm-based processors. Trump and Son said the $100 billion that SoftBank has promised to invest will go to building AI infrastructure, but the nature of that spending remains unclear. The eventual impact of AI on jobs remains an open question, but much of its infrastructure is based on energy-guzzling data processing centers that are likely to employ relatively few people once they are built. Even if SoftBank actually invested the promised $50 billion last time Trump was headed to the White House, it's unclear how many jobs that created. Shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic complicated matters. Foxconn Technology Group, a Taiwan company best known for making Apple iPhones, won Trump's praise after saying in 2017 it would build a $10 billion complex employing 13,000 people in a small town just south of Milwaukee. But that investment was scaled back drastically. SoftBank itself says it had 65,352 employees as of March. Officials in Tokyo praised Son's initiative, viewing it as a goodwill gesture at a time of huge concern over whether Trump will impose blanket tariff hikes on imports from allies like Japan, as well as China. "Generally speaking, I believe expansion of investment through steady accumulation of efforts between Japanese and U.S. companies would help further strengthen Japan-U.S. economic ties, so I find it delightful," said Yoji Muto, Japan's Trade and Industry minister. ___ Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed.

Why is tech giant SoftBank investing over $100 billion in the US?

BANGKOK (AP) -- Japanese tycoon Masayoshi Son and President-elect Donald Trump have announced plans for technology and telecoms giant SoftBank Group to invest $100 billion in projects in the United States over the coming four years. Trump said the investments in building artificial intelligence infrastructure would create 100,000 jobs, twice the 50,000 promised when Son pledged $50 billion in U.S. investments after Trump's victory in 2016. Son, a founder and CEO of SoftBank Group, is known for making bold choices that sometimes pay big and sometimes don't. SoftBank has investments in dozens of Silicon Valley startups, along with big companies like semiconductor design company Arm and Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. The stock market rally and craze for AI has boosted the value of its assets, but it's unclear whether its investments will create that many jobs. Son founded SoftBank in the 1980s, expanding it from a telecoms carrier to encompass renewable energy and technology ventures. A leading figure in Japan's business world, he was an early believer in the internet, pouring billions into Silicon Valley start-ups and other technology companies. Son comes from a humble background. While at the University of California, Berkeley, he invented a pocket translator that he sold for $1 million to Japanese electronics maker Sharp Corp. He has made a career of risk-taking, pushing adoption of broadband services when the internet was still relatively new in Japan. His $20 billion takeover of U.S. mobile phone carrier Sprint Nextel Corp. in 2012 was Japan's biggest foreign acquisition at the time. Son is philosophical about his missteps, such as SoftBank's $18.5 billion investment in co-working space provider WeWork, which sought bankruptcy protection last year. SoftBank also invested in the failed robot pizza-making company Zume. Son is canny: SoftBank-related spending on lobbying and donations to U.S. politicians and parties runs into the billions of dollars. And both times Trump was elected, Son was quick to show his support. SoftBank has benefitted in recent months from rising values of some investments, such as U.S.-based e-commerce company Coupang, Chinese mobility provider DiDi Global and Bytedance, the Chinese developer of TikTok. Son built his fortune on early investments in search engine Yahoo and China's Alibaba, an astute initial outlay of $20 million in what has become an e-commerce and financial empire with a market cap of more than $200 billion. SoftBank has investments in T-Mobile, Deutsche Telekom, Microsoft, Nvidia and ride-sharing platform Uber, among hundreds of other companies that it groups together in its Vision Funds. The Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund and Abu Dhabi national wealth fund are among the biggest investors in those funds. The hundreds of start-ups that have received SoftBank investments include Nuro, a robo-delivery company; the dog-walking app Wag; South Korean logistics company Coupang; the Southeast Asian ride-sharing app Grab; and the office messaging app Slack. After several rough years, SoftBank returned to profitability in the last quarter, helped by returns from its Vision Fund investments. A big factor? Royalties and licensing related to its holdings in the UK-based computer chip-designing company Arm, whose business spans smartphones, data centers, networking equipment, automotive, consumer electronic devices, and AI applications. SoftBank investor presentations have sometimes featured images of a goose labeled "AI Revolution" laying golden eggs. Son has said he believes artificial intelligence will surpass human intelligence within a decade, affecting every industry, from transportation and pharmaceuticals to finance, manufacturing, logistics and others and that companies and people working with AI will be the leaders of the next 10 to 20 years. SoftBank's roughly 90% stake in Arm has positioned it well for expansion of AI applications since most mobile devices operate on Arm-based processors. Trump and Son said the $100 billion that SoftBank has promised to invest will go to building AI infrastructure, but the nature of that spending remains unclear. The eventual impact of AI on jobs remains an open question, but much of its infrastructure is based on energy-guzzling data processing centers that are likely to employ relatively few people once they are built. Even if SoftBank actually invested the promised $50 billion last time Trump was headed to the White House, it's unclear how many jobs that created. Shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic complicated matters. Foxconn Technology Group, a Taiwan company best known for making Apple iPhones, won Trump's praise after saying in 2017 it would build a $10 billion complex employing 13,000 people in a small town just south of Milwaukee. But that investment was scaled back drastically. SoftBank itself says it had 65,352 employees as of March. Officials in Tokyo praised Son's initiative, viewing it as a goodwill gesture at a time of huge concern over whether Trump will impose blanket tariff hikes on imports from allies like Japan, as well as China. "Generally speaking, I believe expansion of investment through steady accumulation of efforts between Japanese and U.S. companies would help further strengthen Japan-U.S. economic ties, so I find it delightful," said Yoji Muto, Japan's Trade and Industry minister. Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed.

Why Is Tech Giant SoftBank Investing Over $100 Billion in the US?

BANGKOK (AP) -- Japanese tycoon Masayoshi Son and President-elect Donald Trump have announced plans for technology and telecoms giant SoftBank Group to invest $100 billion in projects in the United States over the coming four years. Trump said the investments in building artificial intelligence infrastructure would create 100,000 jobs, twice the 50,000 promised when Son pledged $50 billion in U.S. investments after Trump's victory in 2016. Son, a founder and CEO of SoftBank Group, is known for making bold choices that sometimes pay big and sometimes don't. SoftBank has investments in dozens of Silicon Valley startups, along with big companies like semiconductor design company Arm and Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. The stock market rally and craze for AI has boosted the value of its assets, but it's unclear whether its investments will create that many jobs. Who is Masayoshi Son? Son founded SoftBank in the 1980s, expanding it from a telecoms carrier to encompass renewable energy and technology ventures. A leading figure in Japan's business world, he was an early believer in the internet, pouring billions into Silicon Valley start-ups and other technology companies. Son comes from a humble background. While at the University of California, Berkeley, he invented a pocket translator that he sold for $1 million to Japanese electronics maker Sharp Corp. He has made a career of risk-taking, pushing adoption of broadband services when the internet was still relatively new in Japan. His $20 billion takeover of U.S. mobile phone carrier Sprint Nextel Corp. in 2012 was Japan's biggest foreign acquisition at the time. Son is philosophical about his missteps, such as SoftBank's $18.5 billion investment in co-working space provider WeWork, which sought bankruptcy protection last year. SoftBank also invested in the failed robot pizza-making company Zume. Son is canny: SoftBank-related spending on lobbying and donations to U.S. politicians and parties runs into the billions of dollars. And both times Trump was elected, Son was quick to show his support. What is SoftBank Group? SoftBank has benefitted in recent months from rising values of some investments, such as U.S.-based e-commerce company Coupang, Chinese mobility provider DiDi Global and Bytedance, the Chinese developer of TikTok. Son built his fortune on early investments in search engine Yahoo and China's Alibaba, an astute initial outlay of $20 million in what has become an e-commerce and financial empire with a market cap of more than $200 billion. SoftBank has investments in T-Mobile, Deutsche Telekom, Microsoft, Nvidia and ride-sharing platform Uber, among hundreds of other companies that it groups together in its Vision Funds. The Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund and Abu Dhabi national wealth fund are among the biggest investors in those funds. The hundreds of start-ups that have received SoftBank investments include Nuro, a robo-delivery company; the dog-walking app Wag; South Korean logistics company Coupang; the Southeast Asian ride-sharing app Grab; and the office messaging app Slack. After several rough years, SoftBank returned to profitability in the last quarter, helped by returns from its Vision Fund investments. A big factor? Royalties and licensing related to its holdings in the UK-based computer chip-designing company Arm, whose business spans smartphones, data centers, networking equipment, automotive, consumer electronic devices, and AI applications. Son is betting heavily on AI SoftBank investor presentations have sometimes featured images of a goose labeled "AI Revolution" laying golden eggs. Son has said he believes artificial intelligence will surpass human intelligence within a decade, affecting every industry, from transportation and pharmaceuticals to finance, manufacturing, logistics and others and that companies and people working with AI will be the leaders of the next 10 to 20 years. SoftBank's roughly 90% stake in Arm has positioned it well for expansion of AI applications since most mobile devices operate on Arm-based processors. Trump and Son said the $100 billion that SoftBank has promised to invest will go to building AI infrastructure, but the nature of that spending remains unclear. The eventual impact of AI on jobs remains an open question, but much of its infrastructure is based on energy-guzzling data processing centers that are likely to employ relatively few people once they are built. What about the jobs? Even if SoftBank actually invested the promised $50 billion last time Trump was headed to the White House, it's unclear how many jobs that created. Shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic complicated matters. Foxconn Technology Group, a Taiwan company best known for making Apple iPhones, won Trump's praise after saying in 2017 it would build a $10 billion complex employing 13,000 people in a small town just south of Milwaukee. But that investment was scaled back drastically. SoftBank itself says it had 65,352 employees as of March. Officials in Tokyo praised Son's initiative, viewing it as a goodwill gesture at a time of huge concern over whether Trump will impose blanket tariff hikes on imports from allies like Japan, as well as China. "Generally speaking, I believe expansion of investment through steady accumulation of efforts between Japanese and U.S. companies would help further strengthen Japan-U.S. economic ties, so I find it delightful," said Yoji Muto, Japan's Trade and Industry minister. ___ Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Japanese tech giant SoftBank is investing over $100 billion in the U.S. Here's why

Japanese tycoon Masayoshi Son and President-elect Donald Trump have announced plans for technology and telecoms giant SoftBank Group to invest $100 billion in projects in the United States over the coming four years. Trump said the investments in building artificial intelligence infrastructure would create 100,000 jobs, twice the 50,000 promised when Son pledged $50 billion in U.S. investments after Trump's victory in 2016. Son, a founder and CEO of SoftBank Group, is known for making bold choices that sometimes pay big and sometimes don't. SoftBank has investments in dozens of Silicon Valley startups, along with big companies like semiconductor design company Arm and Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. The stock market rally and craze for AI has boosted the value of its assets, but it's unclear whether its investments will create that many jobs. Son founded SoftBank in the 1980s, expanding it from a telecoms carrier to encompass renewable energy and technology ventures. A leading figure in Japan's business world, he was an early believer in the internet, pouring billions into Silicon Valley start-ups and other technology companies. Son comes from a humble background. While at the University of California, Berkeley, he invented a pocket translator that he sold for $1 million to Japanese electronics maker Sharp Corp. He has made a career of risk-taking, pushing adoption of broadband services when the internet was still relatively new in Japan. His $20 billion takeover of U.S. mobile phone carrier Sprint Nextel Corp. in 2012 was Japan's biggest foreign acquisition at the time. Son is philosophical about his missteps, such as SoftBank's $18.5 billion investment in co-working space provider WeWork, which sought bankruptcy protection last year. SoftBank also invested in the failed robot pizza-making company Zume. Son is canny: SoftBank-related spending on lobbying and donations to U.S. politicians and parties runs into the billions of dollars. And both times Trump was elected, Son was quick to show his support. SoftBank has benefitted in recent months from rising values of some investments, such as U.S.-based e-commerce company Coupang, Chinese mobility provider DiDi Global and Bytedance, the Chinese developer of TikTok. Son built his fortune on early investments in search engine Yahoo and China's Alibaba, an astute initial outlay of $20 million in what has become an e-commerce and financial empire with a market cap of more than $200 billion. SoftBank has investments in T-Mobile, Deutsche Telekom, Microsoft, Nvidia and ride-sharing platform Uber, among hundreds of other companies that it groups together in its Vision Funds. The Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund and Abu Dhabi national wealth fund are among the biggest investors in those funds. The hundreds of start-ups that have received SoftBank investments include Nuro, a robo-delivery company; the dog-walking app Wag; South Korean logistics company Coupang; the Southeast Asian ride-sharing app Grab; and the office messaging app Slack. After several rough years, SoftBank returned to profitability in the last quarter, helped by returns from its Vision Fund investments. A big factor? Royalties and licensing related to its holdings in the UK-based computer chip-designing company Arm, whose business spans smartphones, data centers, networking equipment, automotive, consumer electronic devices, and AI applications. SoftBank investor presentations have sometimes featured images of a goose labeled "AI Revolution" laying golden eggs. Son has said he believes artificial intelligence will surpass human intelligence within a decade, affecting every industry, from transportation and pharmaceuticals to finance, manufacturing, logistics and others and that companies and people working with AI will be the leaders of the next 10 to 20 years. SoftBank's roughly 90% stake in Arm has positioned it well for expansion of AI applications since most mobile devices operate on Arm-based processors. Trump and Son said the $100 billion that SoftBank has promised to invest will go to building AI infrastructure, but the nature of that spending remains unclear. The eventual impact of AI on jobs remains an open question, but much of its infrastructure is based on energy-guzzling data processing centers that are likely to employ relatively few people once they are built.

Why is tech giant SoftBank investing over $100 billion in the US?

Japanese tycoon Masayoshi Son pledged a $100 billion investment in U.S. projects, aiming to create 100,000 jobs through AI infrastructure development. Son, known for bold ventures, leads SoftBank Group, with investments ranging from startups to giants like Arm and Alibaba. While the market and AI boom have boosted SoftBank's assets, the actual job creation remains uncertain.Japanese tycoon Masayoshi Son and President-elect Donald Trump have announced plans for technology and telecoms giant SoftBank Group to invest $100 billion in projects in the United States over the coming four years. Trump said the investments in building artificial intelligence infrastructure would create 100,000 jobs, twice the 50,000 promised when Son pledged $50 billion in U.S. investments after Trump's victory in 2016. Son, a founder and CEO of SoftBank Group, is known for making bold choices that sometimes pay big and sometimes don't. SoftBank has investments in dozens of Silicon Valley startups, along with big companies like semiconductor design company Arm and Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. The stock market rally and craze for AI has boosted the value of its assets, but it's unclear whether its investments will create that many jobs. Who is Masayoshi Son? Son founded SoftBank in the 1980s, expanding it from a telecoms carrier to encompass renewable energy and technology ventures. A leading figure in Japan's business world, he was an early believer in the internet, pouring billions into Silicon Valley start-ups and other technology companies. Son comes from a humble background. While at the University of California, Berkeley, he invented a pocket translator that he sold for $1 million to Japanese electronics maker Sharp Corp. He has made a career of risk-taking, pushing adoption of broadband services when the internet was still relatively new in Japan. His $20 billion takeover of U.S. mobile phone carrier Sprint Nextel Corp. in 2012 was Japan's biggest foreign acquisition at the time. Son is philosophical about his missteps, such as SoftBank's $18.5 billion investment in co-working space provider WeWork, which sought bankruptcy protection last year. SoftBank also invested in the failed robot pizza-making company Zume. Son is canny: SoftBank-related spending on lobbying and donations to U.S. politicians and parties runs into the billions of dollars. And both times Trump was elected, Son was quick to show his support. What is SoftBank Group? SoftBank has benefitted in recent months from rising values of some investments, such as U.S.-based e-commerce company Coupang, Chinese mobility provider DiDi Global and Bytedance, the Chinese developer of TikTok. Son built his fortune on early investments in search engine Yahoo and China's Alibaba, an astute initial outlay of $20 million in what has become an e-commerce and financial empire with a market cap of more than $200 billion. SoftBank has investments in T-Mobile, Deutsche Telekom, Microsoft, Nvidia and ride-sharing platform Uber, among hundreds of other companies that it groups together in its Vision Funds. The Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund and Abu Dhabi national wealth fund are among the biggest investors in those funds. The hundreds of start-ups that have received SoftBank investments include Nuro, a robo-delivery company; the dog-walking app Wag; South Korean logistics company Coupang; the Southeast Asian ride-sharing app Grab; and the office messaging app Slack. After several rough years, SoftBank returned to profitability in the last quarter, helped by returns from its Vision Fund investments. A big factor? Royalties and licensing related to its holdings in the UK-based computer chip-designing company Arm, whose business spans smartphones, data centers, networking equipment, automotive, consumer electronic devices, and AI applications. Son is betting heavily on AI SoftBank investor presentations have sometimes featured images of a goose labeled "AI Revolution" laying golden eggs. Son has said he believes artificial intelligence will surpass human intelligence within a decade, affecting every industry, from transportation and pharmaceuticals to finance, manufacturing, logistics and others and that companies and people working with AI will be the leaders of the next 10 to 20 years. SoftBank's roughly 90% stake in Arm has positioned it well for expansion of AI applications since most mobile devices operate on Arm-based processors. Trump and Son said the $100 billion that SoftBank has promised to invest will go to building AI infrastructure, but the nature of that spending remains unclear. The eventual impact of AI on jobs remains an open question, but much of its infrastructure is based on energy-guzzling data processing centers that are likely to employ relatively few people once they are built. What about the jobs? Even if SoftBank actually invested the promised $50 billion last time Trump was headed to the White House, it's unclear how many jobs that created. Shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic complicated matters. Foxconn Technology Group, a Taiwan company best known for making Apple iPhones, won Trump's praise after saying in 2017 it would build a $10 billion complex employing 13,000 people in a small town just south of Milwaukee. But that investment was scaled back drastically. SoftBank itself says it had 65,352 employees as of March. Officials in Tokyo praised Son's initiative, viewing it as a goodwill gesture at a time of huge concern over whether Trump will impose blanket tariff hikes on imports from allies like Japan, as well as China. "Generally speaking, I believe expansion of investment through steady accumulation of efforts between Japanese and U.S. companies would help further strengthen Japan-U.S. economic ties, so I find it delightful," said Yoji Muto, Japan's Trade and Industry minister.

Softbank is wooing Trump with a plan to invest $100 billion in AI

Japanese investment giant Softbank (SFTBY+0.42%) reportedly plans to announce a $100 billion investment in the U.S. during its CEO's visit with President-elect Donald Trump. CNBC, citing unnamed sources familiar with the plans, reports that the investments will primarily focus on artificial intelligence and related support infrastructure, including data centers and semiconductor chip production. The money will be invested before the end of Trump's second term in office and aims to create 100,000 jobs. CNBC reports that some of the money could come from Softbank's Vision Fund, capital projects, or Arm Holdings, a chipmaker that is majority-owned by Softbank. It also may not be newly-raised funding, and may include some investments were previously announced, including the firm's $1.5 billion investment in OpenAI. Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son has become a major champion of AI, even asking OpenAI's ChatGPT for investment advice and comparing doubters of the tech to goldfish who will be "left behind." In May, The Financial Times reported that Softbank was prepared to commit close to $9 billion a year in AI investments. Earlier that month, it led a $1 billion funding round for self-driving car startup Wayve. The $100 billion investment would be a follow-up to Softbank's 2016 announcement that it would invest $50 billion in the U.S. and create 50,000 new jobs. At the time, Trump claimed that the deal wouldn't have happened if his Democratic rival had won the presidential election. In June 2018, while speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for a new Foxconn factory in Wisconsin, Trump claimed that Softbank's investments "turned out to be $72 billion so far." More than a year later, in December 2019, Softbank told Forbes that the Vision Fund and other vehicles had poured $47 billion into the U.S. economy by investing in dozens of companies, including DoorDash (DASH-0.56%). Almost half of its investments at the time went to co-working startup WeWork, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2023 after a failed public launch. By the time it filed for Chapter 11, WeWork's value had sunk from a $47 billion peak to just $45 million. It exited bankruptcy earlier this year.

Trump and Japan tech conglomerate SoftBank announce $100 billion in U.S. investments

The goal is to create as many as 100,000 jobs over four years in AI and "related infrastructure." President-elect Donald Trump and the head of Japanese tech conglomerate SoftBank, Masayoshi Son, will announce a $100 billion investment effort designed to spur artificial intelligence and related infrastructure projects. The effort, first reported by CNBC, will attempt to create 100,000 jobs over four years. Trump and Son announced a similar initiative in 2016 after Trump was elected president for the first time, with the Japanese firm agreeing to invest $50 billion in the U.S. with the aim to create 50,000 jobs. It is not clear whether that effort fully paid off, as many of SoftBank's numerous startup investments in the U.S. and beyond failed to pay off. A 2019 report from Forbes found hard data on the ultimate impact difficult to come by. Axios, however, reports it largely met the marks, at least for a time. Today, SoftBank is a much smaller company than when Trump first took office nearly a decade ago -- and according to Bloomberg News, only has $25 billion in cash on hand, raising questions about how Son and his firm will come up with the pledge money. A SoftBank representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Son joins the slew of tech titans announcing investments following Trump's electoral victory. Earlier this month, Amazon and Meta, the parent company of Facebook, each announced $1 million contributions to Trump's inaugural fund, as have OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and the AI startup Perplexity.

Japan's SoftBank to pledge $100bn investment in US

Japan's SoftBank will on Monday unveil plans to invest $100bn and create 100,000 jobs in the US, in the latest sign of how companies are rushing to ingratiate themselves with Donald Trump. Masayoshi Son, SoftBank's billionaire chief executive, plans to stand next to President-elect Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Monday as the duo formally announce the plans, according to people familiar with the matter. The maverick investor, who made a similar move after Trump won the presidential election in 2016, will pledge to create AI-focused jobs and infrastructure projects, including those focused on chips and data centres, said people briefed on the investment plan. Son's announcement comes as US technology groups, led by Amazon and Meta, have moved to make big donations to the fund for Trump's inauguration in January -- signalling corporate America's efforts to curry favour with the incoming president. Trump has vowed to spur investment in the US with a mix of low taxes and deregulation -- and even promised to expedite regulatory approvals for companies that plough $1bn or more into the US economy. Investors hope the plans will boost the world's biggest economy, a bet that has prompted strong inflows into US stocks since November's election and sent equities zooming higher. But his plans to impose sweeping tariffs on imports from around the world, his expected crackdown on immigration and his rollback of other manufacturing incentives enacted during Joe Biden's administration threaten to undermine his pro-growth efforts, analysts say. It is unclear how Son, who is known for his lofty pronouncements, will be able to fund his $100bn investment pledge. He similarly vowed to inject $50bn into the US economy and create 50,000 jobs following Trump's 2016 election win. A person familiar with the plans said the size of the latest investment could be subject to change. Son in 2016 raised $100bn through the SoftBank Vision Fund, with the support of Saudi Arabia. That cash backed a variety of US tech companies, including Uber and WeWork, but it is unclear exactly how many jobs it created over the four-year period. This time Son is likely to use his chip design company Arm, which is the crown jewel of the Vision Fund, as the vehicle to create jobs and invest in AI more broadly.

Japanese firm SoftBank plans to invest $100 billion in U.S., Trump announces

Japanese tech conglomerate SoftBank plans to invest $100 billion in the U.S. and create 100,000 jobs in artificial intelligence and technology, President-elect Donald Trump announced Monday at Mar-a-Lago alongside SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son. "Today, I am thrilled to announce that SoftBank will be investing $100 billion America, creating 100,000 American jobs at a minimum," Trump said, adding that Son was announcing the investment "because he feels very optimistic about our country since the election." The investment "will help insure that artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and other industries of tomorrow are built, created right here in the U.S.A.," Trump said. "I"m very, very excited," Son said. "I would really like to celebrate the great victory of President Trump. And my confidence level to the economy of the United States has tremendously increased with his victory." During their announcement, Trump asked Son to double the investment. "I'm going to ask him right now, will you make it $200 billion, believe it or not, he can actually afford to do that," Trump said. Son responded, "With your leadership and my parternship and your support, I will try to make it happen." After Trump's 2016 victory, the two announced his firm would invest $50 billion in the U.S. Tokyo-based SoftBank is an investment company that focuses on financial, tech and energy companies. Trump made the SoftBank announcement Monday in a statement to the press that turned into extended remarks about his economic plans. Trump pledged to make more tax cuts, even beyond the ones he and Congress enacted in 2017. Trump said any company that invests at least $1 billion in the U.S. will be eligible for fully expedited permit approvals, including environmental approvals, Trump said. "This will be the most exciting and successful period of reform and renewal in all of American history, maybe of global history, the golden age of America, I call it, it's begun," Trump said. Trump expressed hope there wouldn't be "intervening" issues in his second term, mentioning the COVID-19 pandemic that ravaged the economy in his first term.

SoftBank pledges to invest $100B in US in Trump's 2nd term

SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son revealed plans to invest $100 billion in the US and create a minimum of 100,000 jobs in the next four years. Son made his promise while speaking alongside president-elect Donald Trump, who hailed the pledge as an "historic investment" and "a monumental demonstration of confidence in America's future, and it will help ensure that artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and other industries of tomorrow are built, created, and grown right here in the USA." This isn't the first time that Son has announced big plans to invest in the US. During Trump's first term, Son promised $50 billion in US investment. Now for Trump's second term, he says he's "doubling down." In fact, if Trump had his way, SoftBank would double down yet again, with the once and future president teasing the exec about the possibility of increasing this latest investment to $200 billion. In response to the apparent joke, Son said he would "try to make it happen." Son didn't detail his planned investment. The Register has asked SoftBank for comment and we'll let you know if the conglomerate responds. Trump's mention of artificial intelligence offers one clue, as SoftBank is known to be trying to capitalize on the ongoing AI boom. The Japanese multinational has a long and checkered history of backing technology businesses. Most notably, SoftBank took British chip designer Arm Holdings private in 2016, before it once again listed on the NASDAQ in early 2023. Speaking at SoftBank World earlier this year, Son declared that the singularity - a sudden step-change in technological capability that rapidly transforms society - is near, and in 2023 predicted artificial general intelligence will arrive within a decade. In Son's view, Arm will play a big role in making that happen. SoftBank has made other bets on AI. Back in July it acquired another British chip designer called Graphcore. As Bloomberg reported, the acquisition is part of a broader effort to build a $100 billion AI chip powerhouse capable of challenging Nvidia. Speaking of Nvidia, in November SoftBank announced it would build Japan's "most powerful AI supercomputer" using the GPU giant's latest Blackwell accelerators. That same month the mega-investor also funneled $1.5 billion into AI model builder OpenAI. Softbank's US investments could also include funding the construction of large AI datacenters. Over the past year we've seen GPU-bit barn operators like CoreWeave, Lambda, Voltage Park, and others rake in billions of dollars in debt financing from large investors to finance the construction of new facilities containing tens of thousands of accelerators. As our sibling site The Next Platform has previously discussed, at least for the moment, the return on investment for these facilities is on the order of 3.5x. However, it's worth noting that not all of SoftBank's bets have panned out. For instance, WeWork, into which SoftBank invested billions, filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy a little over a year ago. So should Son's $100 billion in US investments materialize as promised, they may create new opportunities - but they're by no means guaranteed to succeed. ®

Trump and SoftBank CEO Announce $100 Billion Investment in US Projects

The technology company plans to invest $100 billion in U.S. projects, echoing the multibillion-dollar pledge it made after Donald J. Trump's first election victory in 2016. President-elect Donald J. Trump's first news conference since the election covered a wide range of topics, but it began with an eye-catching pledge: a $100 billion investment in the United States by SoftBank, a Japanese technology company. Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Monday, Mr. Trump was accompanied by SoftBank's chief executive, Masayoshi Son, perhaps best known in recent years for the speed and scope of his investments. According to Mr. Trump, SoftBank will invest $100 billion in U.S. projects, intending to create 100,000 jobs. Trump transition officials said the investment will focus on technology and artificial intelligence over the next four years. At the news conference, Mr. Trump immediately put the SoftBank chief on the spot, asking him to double the commitment. "He can actually afford to do that," Mr. Trump said. Mr. Son was noncommittal but called the president-elect a great negotiator. SoftBank doesn't have $100 billion in cash on hand. The money is expected to come partly from its balance sheet but also from money raised alongside partners, according to a person familiar with SoftBank's plans. Mr. Son, 67, started SoftBank in Tokyo in 1981 and has built it into one of the largest technology investors in the world. His firm has been known for its high-profile wins and losses, and Mr. Son -- commonly known as Masa -- has been known to grab headlines with eye-popping pronouncements, fund-raising and investments. In December 2016, before Mr. Trump took office for the first time, Mr. Son promised a $50 billion investment in the United States, and said it would create 50,000 jobs. That announcement came shortly after Mr. Son had announced plans for SoftBank's Vision Fund, a $100 billion vehicle for investing in technology companies worldwide. Half of that $100 billion came from Saudi Arabia. Through that fund, Mr. Son became one of the largest backers of tech startups, including Uber and DoorDash. The fund was closely watched because of the speed at which it funneled money to fledgling startups but also because many ran into trouble, including the coworking company WeWork and a robot-making pizza company called Zume. It is unclear how many jobs SoftBank created with its investments. When SoftBank's 2016 pledge was made, Mr. Trump wrote on social media: "Masa said he would never do this had we (Trump) not won the election!" More recently, SoftBank has had a big winner in the chip design firm, Arm, which is a key investment in its portfolio. SoftBank took the company public in September 2023, and its stock has since nearly tripled. Arm is poised to give the firm a key role in the rise of artificial intelligence. SoftBank also recently invested $500 million in OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, and is looking to put another $1.5 billion into the company by buying employees' shares, a person familiar said. The investment announced Monday is likely to be focused on the infrastructure needed to support the A.I. boom via energy projects, data centers and chips, according to a person familiar with the company's plans. At SoftBank's annual meeting in June 2023, Mr. Son said he had a revelation that he wanted to spend the remainder of his life and career as "an architect to build the future of humankind" through A.I. Alongside Mr. Son, some of the other biggest names in tech have recently brandished money and compliments for the president-elect, as well as made a pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago to publicly show their support. Amazon, Meta and OpenAI's Sam Altman each donated $1 million to Mr. Trump's inaugural committee. Sundar Pichai and Sergey Brin of Google dined with Mr. Trump on Thursday, and Apple's Tim Cook shared a meal with him the following day. Marc Benioff, the chief executive of Salesforce and the owner of Time magazine, last week posted on X that it was "a time of great promise for our nation." Time had awarded Mr. Trump its coveted "Person of the Year" designation, which the president-elect celebrated by ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Zolan Kanno-Youngs contributed reporting from Palm Beach, Fla.

Softbank announces $100B investment in US AI infrastructure

Masayoshi Son, the CEO of Japanese investment holdings firm Softbank Group, announced on Dec. 16 that his firm would be investing at least $100 billion in the United States to build artificial intelligence infrastructure. The announcement was made at President-elect Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. According to Trump, this partnership will create 100,000 jobs focused on AI -- though details remain scarce as of the time of this article's publication. During the announcement, Son and Trump exchanged banter indicating that the president-elect sought to double the initial sum. Laughing, Son referred to Trump as a "great negotiator," and promised to "try and make it happen." Trump 2.0 President-elect Trump and Son have a long-standing relationship and, during the first Trump administration, the two inked a similar partnership in 2016. At the time, Softbank Group pledged $50 billion to the US for infrastructure with the promise to create 50,000 new jobs. It's unclear whether any jobs were created, though a report from CNBC indicates the funds were paid out by 2020. The Department of the Treasury did not immediately return a request for comment from Cointelegraph. The Treasury's Committee on Foreign Investments is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. Meanwhile, under the second Trump administration, Softbank likely faces a much less restrictive foreign trade and investment market in the US than it did in years prior. Trump has vowed to cut and/or consolidate banking regulators and promised to fast-track any investments over $1 billion to include environmental impact regulations. Softbank's AI ambitions Son's partnership with Trump comes amid a regrowth period for the company. After losing 99% of its value when the dot-com bubble burst between 2000-2002, the firm has climbed back to prominence. Related: Softbank CEO says company's purpose is to create 'artificial super intelligence' Analysts have largely attributed the recovery to the firm's strategic AI investments, including a $1.5 billion buy-in to ChatGPT maker OpenAI in November 2024. The recent uptick comes in spite of a string of failures associated with its "Vision" investment arm, including the shuttering of WeWork, which cost the firm more than $14 billion. As of late 2024, Softbank has approximately $175 billion in assets and equivalents, but it's unclear how much of that is available for immediate investment. According to Trump and Son, Softbank Group will pay the full $100 billion by the end of 2028.

SoftBank commits to $100 billion U.S. investment By Investing.com

In a significant move for the U.S. economy, President-elect Donald Trump and SoftBank (TYO:9984) Group CEO Masayoshi Son announced a major investment plan on Monday. SoftBank will invest $100 billion in the United States over the next four years. The investment aims to spur job creation and economic growth, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and infrastructure development. The announcement was made at a patriotic event at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, where Trump expressed that this investment showcases "monumental confidence in America's future." He also highlighted the potential for this investment to create 100,000 jobs, aligning with his commitment to enhance the U.S. economy and mitigate the effects of inflation. Trump praised Masayoshi Son, calling him "one of the most accomplished business leaders of our time," and underscored the significance of the planned investment in relation to his upcoming second term, which starts on January 20. The deployment of the funds is scheduled to be completed before the end of Trump's term, signaling a swift and impactful infusion of capital into the U.S. economy.

Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son to announce $100 billion investment in U.S. during visit with Trump

Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son will announce a $100 billion investment in the U.S. over the next four years during a Monday visit to President-elect Donald Trump's residence Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, sources told CNBC's Sara Eisen. The billionaire investor and founder of the Japanese tech-investing firm will also promise in the joint announcement with Trump to create 100,000 jobs focused on artificial intelligence and related infrastructure, the sources said. The money will be deployed before the end of Trump's term. The funding could come from various sources controlled by Softbank, including the Vision Fund, capital projects or chipmaker Arm Holdings.

SoftBank's $100B US Pledge Will Target AI Development in 2025 and Beyond

SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son is set to announce plans to invest $100 billion in the U.S. over the next four years. As reported by CNBC, the Japanese investor will announce the funding alongside President-Elect Donald Trump at Mar a Lago on Monday, Dec. 16. Masayoshi Son to Announce $100B US Funding While the details remain unclear, CNBC reported that SoftBank hopes to create 100,000 jobs focused on artificial intelligence and related infrastructure through its investment. SoftBank's Vision Fund, which has previously backed companies like OpenAI and Nvidia, is likely to play a significant role in channeling the planned investments. Other potential sources of funding include Arm Holdings, which SoftBank owns, or any one of dozens of other technology companies it has a stake in. SoftBank AI Spending Spree SoftBank has long championed AI as the cornerstone of future technological advancements and has consistently invested AI startups and established firms working on the technology. Noteworthy investments it has made in the space include the robotics manufacturer Boston Dynamics, which it holds a 20 percent stake in. More recently, the Japanese firm has thrown its weight behind OpenAI, contributing $500 billion to its latest funding round. American AI Leadership SoftBank's latest commitment to the U.S. AI industry reflects confidence in the country's continued leadership in the space. At a time when Trump is maneuvering to cement American AI dominance, the symbolism of him joining Son to announce the latest investment speaks volumes. Trump has emphasized AI's role in escalating trade and geopolitical tensions with China. As he prepares to take office in January, Son's latest announcement amounts to a vote of confidence in U.S. innovation and could help catalyze new breakthroughs in the ongoing AI race.

Trump, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son reveal $100B investment in AI to...

President-elect Donald Trump, with SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son at his side, announced on Monday a $100 billion investment in the US over the next four years in what would be a boost to the US economy. Trump also promised in his joint appearance with Son that the investment would create 100,000 jobs focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and related infrastructure, with the money to be deployed before the end of Trump's term. Trump said the investment was evidence of "monumental confidence in America's future." The promise, made at a flag-bedecked event at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, fits in with Trump's vow to bolster the US economy and reduce the impact of inflation on Americans during his second term, which begins Jan. 20. Trump called Son "one of the most accomplished business leaders of our time." The Monday announcement echoes a similar pledge Son made with then-President-elect Trump in December 2016 at Trump Tower, when Son said he would spend $50 billion and create 50,000 jobs. While that money was eventually spent, it is unclear whether those jobs were created.

SoftBank to Invest $100 Billion in AI and Infrastructure in US | PYMNTS.com

Japanese tech investment firm SoftBank will reportedly invest $100 billion in the United States over the next four years. SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son announced the investment Monday (Dec. 16) at President-elect Donald Trump's Mar-a-Logo residence in Florida and said the money will be deployed by the end of Trump's term, CNBC reported Monday. The investment will create at least 100,000 jobs focused on artificial intelligence and related infrastructure, according to the report. "My confidence level to the economy of the United States has tremendously increased with his victory," Son said of Trump, per the report. "President Trump is a double-down president. I'm going to have to double down." Son made a similar investment ahead of Trump's first term. It was reported in December 2016 that SoftBank gave Trump credit as Son pledged to create 50,000 jobs and invest $50 billion in the U.S. through the firm's $100 billion technology fund created with Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund. AI's expansion is creating an energy demand, which poses a challenge as U.S. tech companies vie for a limited electricity supply to power their growing data centers. Son said in June that within three to five years, the AI industry is likely to achieve artificial general intelligence (AGI) -- AI that is smarter than humans -- and that 10 years from now, AI will be 10,000 times smarter than humans. He added that AGI will not require people to "change the structure of human lifestyle," but that "artificial super intelligence (ASI)" will be "a totally different story" and will deliver "a big improvement." It was reported in May that SoftBank plans to invest nearly $9 billion in AI, with its outlay for investments and commitments more than doubling in the 12 months since the company said it was ready to go on the "counteroffensive" in the AI sector.

SoftBank's Masayoshi Son to Pledge $100 Billion in US Investments

SoftBank Group Corp. Chief Executive Officer Masayoshi Son is set to announce a plan to invest $100 billion in the US over the next four years during a visit with President-elect Donald Trump, according to people familiar with the matter. Son will give details of the plan, which includes a pledge to create 100,000 jobs focused on artificial intelligence and related infrastructure, later on Monday, said the people, asking not to be identified because the news isn't yet public. That may include investments in data centers, semiconductors and energy, one of the people said.

SoftBank CEO to announce $100 bln investment in US during visit to Trump, CNBC reports

Dec 16 (Reuters) - SoftBank Group (9984.T), opens new tab CEO Masayoshi Son will announce a $100 billion investment in the U.S. over the next four years during a Monday visit to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's residence Mar-a-Lago, CNBC reported on Monday. Son will also promise in the joint announcement with Trump to create 100,000 jobs focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and related infrastructure, with the money to be deployed before the end of Trump's term, CNBC said, citing sources. The funding could come from various sources controlled by SoftBank, including the Vision Fund, capital projects or chipmaker Arm Holdings (O9Ty.F), opens new tab, CNBC said. Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia Cheema Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Suggested Topics:FinanceDonald Trump

SoftBank CEO to announce $100 billion investment in US during visit to Trump, CNBC reports

(Reuters) - SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son will announce a $100 billion investment in the U.S. over the next four years during a Monday visit to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's residence Mar-a-Lago, CNBC reported on Monday. Son will also promise in the joint announcement with Trump to create 100,000 jobs focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and related infrastructure, with the money to be deployed before the end of Trump's term, CNBC said, citing sources. The funding could come from various sources controlled by SoftBank, including the Vision Fund, capital projects or chipmaker Arm Holdings, CNBC said. (Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia Cheema)

Trump, SoftBank CEO announce $100 bln U.S. investment

STORY: :: Softbank announces a $100 billion U.S. investment, "Today I'm thrilled to announce that Softbank will be investing $100 billion in America, creating 100,000 American jobs at a minimum. And he's doing this because he feels very optimistic about our country since the election." // "This historic investment is a monumental demonstration of confidence in America's future and it will help ensure that Artificial Intelligence, emerging technologies and industries of tomorrow are built, created and grown right here in the USA." :: Masayoshi Son, Softbank CEO "My promise is 100 but you know he's now asking to do more. I think, you know, with your leadership, my partnership with you, with your support, I will try to make it happen." TRUMP: "That's good... 200. He'll make it happen. $200 billion investments." "He's a great negotiator." Trump said in his joint appearance with Son that the investment would create 100,000 jobs focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and related infrastructure, with the money to be deployed before the end of Trump's term. Trump said the investment was evidence of "monumental confidence in America's future." He playfully encouraged Son to make the investment $200 billion. Son chuckled and said that he would try. The $100 billion pledge, made at a flag-bedecked event at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, fits in with Trump's vow to bolster the U.S. economy and reduce the impact of inflation on Americans during his second term, which begins on Jan. 20. Trump called Son "one of the most accomplished business leaders of our time."

SoftBank CEO to announce $100 bln investment in US during visit to Trump, CNBC reports

SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son will announce a $100 billion investment in the US over the next four years during a Monday visit to US President-elect Donald Trump's residence Mar-a-Lago, CNBC reported on Monday. Son will also promise in the joint announcement with Trump to create 100,000 jobs focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and related infrastructure, with the money to be deployed before the end of Trump's term, CNBC said, citing sources. The funding could come from various sources controlled by SoftBank, including the Vision Fund, capital projects or chipmaker Arm Holdings, CNBC said. A SoftBank Group representative could not be reached for comment when called outside of regular business hours in Tokyo.

Trump and SoftBank CEO Announce $100bn US Investment Focused on AI | AI News

The investment will focus on artificial intelligence and infrastructure such as data centres, energy production, and chips. President-elect Donald Trump and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son have announced a $100 billion investment in the United States over the next four years, pledging to create 100,000 jobs in AI and related infrastructure. The announcement took place on Monday at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. "This historic investment shows monumental confidence in America's future," Trump said while playfully urging Son to increase the commitment to $200bn. Son, the Japanese billionaire and head of the SoftBank Group, responded with a smile, saying he would try. "With your leadership and my partnership and your support, I will try to make it happen," Son replied. Trump called the pledge a "sign of faith" in the US and a commitment to keeping America on top of the AI game. Recently, former PayPal COO David Sacks was appointed the US AI and crypto czar, further strengthening Elon Musk's influence, who is set to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in Trump's administration. According to analysts, SoftBank currently has $29 billion in cash, raising questions about where the $100 billion would come from. Possible funding sources include SoftBank's Vision Fund, investments in OpenAI, and its stake in chipmaker Arm Holdings. The investment will focus on artificial intelligence and infrastructure such as data centres, energy production, and chips. Son has been a strong advocate for AI and sees it as a key driver of future growth. This announcement mirrors his earlier 2016 pledge of $50 billion and 50,000 jobs during Trump's first term. While the funds were invested, it is unclear how many jobs were actually created. In an interview with CNBC, Son said, "SoftBank was founded for what purpose? For what purpose was Masa Son born? It may sound strange, but I think I was born to realise Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI). I am super serious about it." SoftBank's investments in AI-related sectors, including chip startups like Graphcore and its ties to OpenAI, indicate where some of the funds may be directed. Son's vision for artificial intelligence aligns with growing global interest in the technology as companies compete to lead the next wave of AI advancements.

SoftBank CEO to announce $100 bill. investment in US during visit to Trump, CNBC reports

SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son speaks at the SoftBank World 2023 corporate conference, in Tokyo, Japan in a file photo from Oct. 4. Reuters-Yonhap SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son will announce a $100 billion investment in the U.S. over the next four years during a Monday visit to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's residence Mar-a-Lago, CNBC reported on Monday. Son will also promise in the joint announcement with Trump to create 100,000 jobs focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and related infrastructure, with the money to be deployed before the end of Trump's term, CNBC said, citing sources. The funding could come from various sources controlled by SoftBank, including the Vision Fund, capital projects or chipmaker Arm Holdings, CNBC said. (Reuters)

'Hard negotiator' says Son as Trump pushes SoftBank for USD 200 Bn investment in US

Masayoshi Son, head of Japanese tech conglomerate SoftBank, plans to invest $100 billion in the US over the next four years. The announcement was made during Son's visit to President-elect Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday. The initiative aims to create 100,000 jobs and focus on advancing artificial intelligence (AI) and related infrastructure projects. The funding will likely come from various SoftBank-controlled entities, including the Vision Fund, capital projects, and chipmaker Arm Holdings, in which SoftBank holds a majority stake. Some of the funds may not be newly raised but could include previous investments, such as SoftBank's recent $1.5 billion funding into OpenAI, the company behind the ChatGPT chatbot.

SoftBank Group Shares Rise After News of Plan to Invest $100 Billion in U.S.

SoftBank Group shares rose sharply after the company's chief executive, Masayoshi Son, said it plans to invest $100 billion in U.S. over the next four years. Shares were recently 3.1% higher at 9,716 yen, equivalent to $63.03, on Tuesday in Tokyo after rising as much as 4.0% earlier. President-elect Donald Trump and Son jointly announced Monday at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's private club in Florida, that the Japanese company planned to invest at least $100 billion in U.S. projects over the next four years. SoftBank estimates that its U.S.-based investments will create 100,000 jobs focused on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. It is unclear, though, how SoftBank intends to fund the commitment. The company has roughly $30 billion of cash on hand. The company and its tech funds have began investing more aggressively in recent months after a yearslong defensive strategy, as tech stocks have risen thanks to AI enthusiasm and the Federal Reserve's rate cuts. Shares in SoftBank have gained about 50% so far in 2024 through Monday, boosted by hopes for growing AI-related demand at the company's investees, including subsidiary Arm Holdings. Earlier this year, Son said he believes computers will possess human-level cognitive abilities known as artificial general intelligence within two to three years. At an earnings briefing in November, Chief Financial Officer Yoshimitsu Goto said the group's financial footing improved on strong results, allowing it to make bigger investments selectively at the right time. SoftBank Group's net profit for the quarter ended September was boosted by gains in its stakes in T-Mobile US and other tech companies. Write to Kosaku Narioka at [email protected]

Trump announces $100B investment from SoftBank

President-elect Trump on Monday announced the Japanese company SoftBank Group planned to invest $100 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, touting it as a sign of global confidence in the U.S. following his election victory. Trump was joined at his Mar-a-Lago estate by SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, where the two said the company's investments would focus on artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies and create 100,000 American jobs. "He's doing this because he feels very optimistic about our country since the election," Trump said, calling it a "monumental demonstration of confidence in America's future." Masayoshi said his confidence in the U.S. economy had "tremendously increased" following Trump's win last month. Trump pressed the SoftBank leader to double his investment to $200 billion on the spot. Masayoshi laughed and said he would "try to make it happen." The announcement is a win for Trump, who campaigned on bringing businesses back to the United States and who benefitted from frustration among voters about the direction of the economy under the Biden administration. He has threatened to impose tariffs on imports and on U.S. companies that outsource their jobs, a move that economists have warned would lead to increased prices for U.S. consumers.

Trump Says SoftBank's $100B Commitment To US Is 'Monumental Demonstration Of Confidence In America's Future' - SoftBank Group (OTC:SFTBF)

The investment is double the $50 billion committed to the country after Donald Trump won the 2016 election. Japanese company SoftBank SFTBFSFTBY announced a $100 billion investment and 100,000 jobs created in a commitment to the U.S. on Monday, confirming earlier reports. What Happened: SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son made the announcement alongside President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago Monday, showing his confidence in the economic health of the U.S. since Trump won the 2024 election. "My confidence level to the economy of the United States has tremendously increased with his victory," Son said, acknowledging Trump. Son said he is excited to commit $100 billion and 100,000 jobs to the U.S. as a sign of confidence in what's to come. "This is double of last time as President Trump said, because I say President Trump is a double down president. I'm going to have to double down." Son said business is important and technology is important. The CEO also expressed confidence Trump can bring "the world into peace again." "That's my additional hope." Trump praised Son as one of the top voices and figures in emerging technology, calling him a "brilliant guy." "This historic investment is a monumental demonstration of confidence in America's future, and it will help ensure that artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and other industries of tomorrow are built, created and grown right here in the U.S.A." Trump said. Trump reminded people that SoftBank committed to invest $50 billion after the 2016 election and said that it kept that promise. After Son spoke, Trump asked the SoftBank CEO if he would make it $200 billion, putting him on the spot for a larger commitment. Son said his promise is for $100 billion. "I will try to make it happen. He is a great negotiator," Son said. Read Also: Nvidia And SoftBank To Build Japan's Top AI Supercomputer On Blackwell Platform -- Jensen Huang Says Tokyo Is 'Leaping Into The AI Industrial Revolution' Why It's Important: The $100 billion and jobs commitments will come over the next four years and could show a strengthened relationship between one of the largest Asian investment companies and the U.S. Softbank is the owner of the Softbank Vision Fund, one of the largest technology-focused investment funds worldwide. The company is also a key investor in Arm Holdings and OpenAI. "You'll have my support. You'll have our country's support," Trump said to Son. The announcement could show strengthened relationships between the U.S. and Japan, which comes as the president-elect has threatened higher tariffs on goods exported from China. Since winning the 2024 election, business leaders from the U.S. and other countries flocked to gain support from Trump and push for future growth. Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and Sam Altman have each pledged $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund through their companies or personal wealth. Apple CEO Tim Cook also recently met with Trump in a potential show of support from the technology giant. The world's richest man Elon Musk has been a supporter of Trump and is also set to have a role in the new White House administration as the co-leader of the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk's influence on Trump could lead to new government regulations that could benefit Tesla and SpaceX and help add to his wealth. Read Next: SoftBank Secures Bigger OpenAI Stake With $1.5B Employee Share Buyout: Report Photo: NP27 on Shutterstock SFTBFSoftBank Group Corp$61.034.18%WatchlistOverviewSFTBYSoftBank Group Corp$30.990.81%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Softbank's Masayoshi Son To Reportedly Announce $100B US Investment During Meeting With Trump - SoftBank Group (OTC:SFTBY), ARM Holdings (NASDAQ:ARM)

Softbank SFTBY CEO Masayoshi Son is expected to declare a $100 billion investment in the United States during a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach, Florida on Monday. What Happened: The Japanese tech-investing giant's founder will also commit to creating 100,000 jobs in AI and related infrastructure, according to CNBC sources. This investment is anticipated to be finalized by the end of Trump's term. The funding may come from various Softbank-controlled sources, including the Vision Fund, capital projects, or chipmaker Arm Holdings ARM, where Softbank holds a majority stake. Some of the funds might not be newly raised, potentially including previously announced investments like Softbank's $1.5 billion in OpenAI. See Also: Crypto Analyst: Shiba Inu Price Set For Massive Surge, Could Go Up Sixfold This announcement echoes a similar pledge made in 2016 when Softbank agreed to invest $50 billion in the U.S. to create 50,000 jobs following Trump's first election victory. Why It Matters: The announcement comes at a time when investor sentiment is shifting back toward the 'BoJ trade,' a strategy involving long positions in Japanese equities and banks, while shorting the yen and Japanese government bonds (JGBs). This renewed interest has gained traction, especially after Trump's election win, as noted by JPMorgan analyst Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou. The yen has weakened, moving from 150 to 153 against the dollar, and the probability of a December rate hike has dropped significantly. Additionally, the backdrop of this investment includes national security concerns surrounding foreign investments in the U.S. Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently supported Nippon Steel Corp.'s proposed $14.9 billion acquisition of United States Steel Corp., citing the need to strengthen America's position against Chinese market dominance. This deal faces opposition from both President Joe Biden and Trump, with Biden expected to block it on national security grounds. Read Next: Shiba Inu Burn Rate Skyrockets 515.33% Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Photo by Nobuyuki Hayashi on Shutterstock Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

The CEO of Softbank Just Announced He's 'Doubling-Down' on President-elect Donald Trump's Second Term -- Here's Why

The investment is expected to create 100,000 jobs focused on artificial intelligence and its infrastructure. The CEO and founder of Japanese mobile phone and investment group, SoftBank, Masayoshi Son, visited Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday to visit President-elect Donald Trump at the "Winter White House." There, CNBC first reported, Son announced a $100 billion investment to create at least 100,000 jobs over four years in the U.S. focusing on AI and its related costs. "My confidence level to the economy of the United States has tremendously increased with his victory," Son said. "President Trump is a double-down president. I'm going to have to double down." Related: SoftBank CEO Says AI 10x Smarter Than Humans Could Be Here in a Matter of Years Son is a billionaire investor with a net worth of around $16.7 billion, per Bloomberg. Tokyo-based Softbank has a market capitalization of around $95 billion. "He's doing this because he feels very optimistic about our country since the election," Trump said, per CNBC. "This historic investment is a monumental demonstration confidence in America's future, and it will help ensure that artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and other industries of tomorrow are being created and grown right here in the USA." In 2016, after Trump's first election victory, Son's company invested $50 billion in the U.S. to create 50,000 jobs.

Trump touts $100B investment pledge from WeWork and FTX backer SoftBank

Trump and Masayoshi Son, the CEO of Japanese investment firm SoftBank, promised to create thousands of American jobs. They made the same vow eight years ago, with mixed results. President-elect Donald Trump and a Japanese technology investor, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, announced Monday that SoftBank would invest $100 billion in the United States, echoing a $50 billion pledge eight years ago that yielded mixed results, including the collapse of office-sharing start-up WeWork. In both instances, Son presented investments he had been preparing for months as the direct result of Trump's electoral victories. Son was reportedly approaching investment partners over the summer, and he previewed his plans at a conference in Saudi Arabia in October. "This is double of last time, as President Trump said, because I say President Trump is a double-down president," Son said with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Monday. On the spot, Trump asked him to make it $200 billion. Son laughed and said he'd try. His funds had $13.9 billion in uncommitted capital as of September, according to a company report. Trump's aides were quick to claim the announcement as Trump delivering on campaign promises to revive domestic manufacturing even before taking office. Son was happy to oblige, joining other business leaders in visiting and praising Trump as they seek favor with the incoming administration. Son's 2016 pledge came amid a wave of corporate announcements promoting preplanned investments as job-creation initiatives, giving the new president opportunities to claim victories. Many of the highly publicized announcements did not ultimately deliver the promised number of jobs. In one particularly prominent episode, Trump touted saving jobs at a Carrier air-conditioning factory in Indiana in November 2016, but the plant still eliminated 500 jobs despite incentives from the governor, Trump's running mate, Mike Pence. The U.S. investments that Son promised in December 2016 came out of a $100 billion "Vision Fund" he started with $45 billion from Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. The fund's major bets went on to include WeWork, which filed for bankruptcy last year. SoftBank and other investors once valued WeWork at $50 billion. The Vision Fund also backed the failed construction start-up Katerra and a shuttered robot pizza delivery company. A second Vision Fund launched in 2019 was a major investor in the collapsed crypto exchange FTX. The funds have also invested in real estate platform Compass, food delivery service DoorDash and sports apparel store Fanatics. Most of SoftBank's post-2016 investments were in private companies, making precise job-creation figures unavailable. But many of the companies were small start-ups with few employees, and several of SoftBank's largest bets, such as WeWork and Uber, laid off thousands of people. "They kept that promise in every way, shape and form," Trump said Monday of his and Son's 2016 pledge. SoftBank has recently reported gains in its Vision Funds, following success in its investments outside the United States, including the Chinese ride-hailing company Didi Global and the Chinese tech firm ByteDance, which operates TikTok. The first Vision Fund returned $22.6 billion on $89.5 billion as of September, the company said in a November report. The second Vision Fund launched in 2019 has lost $21 billion on $53.6 billion, the report said. "SoftBank not only wants to continue to grow in his home but also wants to make inroads into the United States," Jeff Kagan, an industry analyst, said in a text message. "A few billion here and a few billion there are just pocket change for this level CEO and company." In his 2024 campaign, Trump won support among Silicon Valley investors through promises to invest in artificial intelligence as a hedge against rising technological competition from China. He has also said that he will repeal President Joe Biden's 2023 AI executive order, which some Silicon Valley investors and technologists have criticized as an impediment to the creation of AI companies and jobs. Trump recently met with Apple CEO Tim Cook, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Google founder Sergey Brin, the president-elect said Monday. He said he was expecting a visit from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who owns The Washington Post. "In the first term, everybody was fighting me. In this term, everybody wants to be my friend," Trump said. "The biggest difference is that people want to get along with me this time." It remains unclear how Trump would replace the Biden AI regulations, but his allies have floated a plan that would include greater military investment in the technology and "industry-led" agencies to evaluate the safety of the technology. Earlier this month, Trump tapped Silicon Valley investor and Elon Musk ally David Sacks to serve as the nation's first "AI and crypto czar." The Saudi investment fund also provided $2 billion to a private equity firm led by Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Marianne LeVine and Cat Zakrzewski contributed to this report.

Trump announces Softbank plans to invest $100bn in US projects

President-elect vows investment will result in 100,000 new jobs despite history of jobs plans not panning out Donald Trump claimed to have notched up the first economic success of his forthcoming second presidency on Monday by announcing a $100bn investment by the Japanese company, SoftBank, which he said would be completed during his four year presidency. The president-elect has a history of headline-grabbing jobs announcements - not all of which pan out successfully. During Trump's first presidency, he announced a $10bn investment by the Taiwanese electronics manufacturer, Foxxcon, that he promised would create 13,000 in Wisconsin. In the event, the company drastically scaled back its outlay and created little more than 1,000 jobs. But on Monday, flanked by Masayoshi Son, SoftBank's CEO, at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trump vowed that the fresh investment would result in 100,000 new jobs, mainly in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector. He trumpeted the move as "a monumental demonstration of confidence in America's future" - while suggesting it had been secured as a result of his victory in last month's presidential election. "He [Son] is doing this because he feels very optimistic about our country since the election and many other people are also coming in with tremendous amounts of money," said Trump, who spent the election campaign lambasting the Biden administration's supposed failure to combat the effects of inflation, which polls indicated was a key voter concern. He said the investment would "ensure that artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and other industries of tomorrow are built created and grown right here. in the USA." Son, who announced a $50bn American investment project at the time of Trump's 2016 election win, said he had doubled the sum this time because the Trump was "a double-down president." "I would really like to celebrate the great victory of President Trump and my confidence level to the economy of the United States has tremendously increased with his victory," he said. "This is double [the amount] of last time ... because President Trump is a double down president." Trump responded by suggesting - apparently in jest - that Son double his current commitment to $200bn. Son laughed and merely vowed to "make this [the current investment] happen." Son's 2016 commitment came with a pledge to create 50,000 jobs. It is unclear if those jobs were in fact produced as a result, Reuters reported. Nor is it clear how SoftBank plans to fund the investment. The company had $29bn in cash and cash equivalents in its most recent earnings report last September. At Monday's announcement, Son voiced the hope that Trump's second presidency would "bring the world into peace again," adding: "I think he will actually make it happen." Later, taking questions from reporters, Trump repeated his vow to bring a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine - reiterating his previous claim that the war between the two countries would never have happened if he had remained president. Asked if he would use his relationship with President Vladimir Putin of Russia to pressure him to give up the recently deposed Syrian dictator, Bashar Assad, who has been granted exile status by the Russian leader, Trump replied that he had not thought about it.