Masayoshi Son, the billionaire CEO of SoftBank, is no stranger to bold statements and ambitious visions. Known for his daring investments and unconventional strategies, Son’s latest declaration is his most audacious yet: he believes he was destined to create artificial superintelligence (ASI) that will be 10,000 times smarter than the most intelligent human.
A Career of Highs and Lows
Son’s journey in the tech and investment world has been marked by significant highs and devastating lows. His career began with a video game company, which he sold to Kyocera, and has since evolved into a series of high-stakes bets on emerging tech companies.
Notable successes include his early investment in Alibaba, which turned into one of the most profitable ventures in history. However, not all of his bets have paid off. The highly publicized failure of WeWork left Son in what he described as “agony” in 2019, vowing to learn from this “harsh lesson” .
The Vision Fund’s Rollercoaster Ride
SoftBank’s Vision Fund, the flagship investment arm of the company, has mirrored Son’s unpredictable journey. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, the fund reported a record $27 billion loss due to the declining value of its high-growth tech stocks amidst rising interest rates.
This prompted Son to shift to a “defense” mode. However, the following fiscal year was even more challenging, with the Vision Fund suffering a $32 billion loss, mainly due to underperforming investments in companies like China’s SenseTime and Indonesia’s GoTo .
A Return to Offense and a New Obsession
Undeterred by these setbacks, Son reverted to an “offense” strategy, leading to a significant turnaround. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, the Vision Fund posted a $4.6 billion profit, buoyed by successful investments in companies such as Arm, ByteDance, and DoorDash .
Having navigated these turbulent waters, Son has now turned his attention to a new and potentially revolutionary focus: artificial superintelligence. At a recent shareholder meeting, Son expressed his belief that SoftBank’s true purpose, and indeed his own, is to bring ASI into reality.
“It may sound strange, but I think I was born to realize ASI. I am super serious about it,” he stated, according to CNBC .
The Path to ASI
Son’s commitment to ASI is not merely a passing interest. He views all his previous investments as preparatory steps towards this ultimate goal. “Realizing ASI is my only focus,” he told the Financial Times.
This focus has been reflected in SoftBank’s recent actions, including a promise made in May to invest at least $1 billion in five separate AI projects. One notable investment was the $200 million injection into Tempus AI, a startup specializing in medical data analysis .
Betting Big on AI Startups
SoftBank’s most recent move underlines this commitment. Just this week, the company backed Perplexity AI, an innovative AI internet search startup aiming to challenge the dominance of Google, securing a valuation of $3 billion in the process .
Son’s vision extends beyond ASI to other areas where AI can have a transformative impact. He highlighted potential opportunities in autonomous driving, AI robotics, and data centers during his shareholder meeting.
Reflecting on his life and career, Son shared a poignant moment: “Two years ago, I am getting old, rest of my life is limited, but I haven’t done anything yet and I cried so hard.”
Now, he feels more certain about his purpose than ever. “This is what I was born to do, to realize ASI,” he emphasized .
Conclusion
Masayoshi Son’s journey has been one of dramatic peaks and troughs, driven by an unwavering belief in the transformative power of technology. As he sets his sights on artificial superintelligence, Son’s ambition could herald a new era in AI, positioning SoftBank at the forefront of a technological revolution. With his track record of bold bets and his renewed focus, the world will be watching to see if Son’s vision of ASI will become a reality.
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