SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son's New Trillion-Dollar "Gamble"
SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son is embroiled in a new trillion-dollar "bet" on Physical AI and humanoid robotics, even as his massive wager on OpenAI faces uncertainty ahead of its potential IPO. Recent reports reveal OpenAI's steep losses—$85 billion net loss by Q1 2026 and a $38.5 billion loss in 2025—casting doubt on its path to a trillion-dollar valuation. SoftBank, OpenAI's second-largest external shareholder with a planned 13% stake, stands to gain hugely if OpenAI succeeds.
Undeterred, Son is already pushing forward with his next ambitious venture: consolidating SoftBank's AI and robotics assets into a new U.S.-based company named "Roze," targeting a $100 billion IPO as early as late 2026. This move aligns with his belief that Physical AI, merging AI cognition with robotic physical execution, is the next trillion-dollar frontier.
Son's confidence stems from recent AI wins; SoftBank's stock surged and he briefly regained the title of Asia's richest person, largely due to OpenAI's soaring valuation. However, his aggressive strategy has raised internal concerns about over-reliance on OpenAI and strained finances. With competitors like Anthropic advancing rapidly and OpenAI's IPO timing uncertain, Son is racing to capitalize on the AI boom.
His long-term vision for Physical AI includes a decade of investments in robotics, from Boston Dynamics to recent acquisitions like ABB's robotics unit, and a planned $1 trillion investment in U.S.-based AI robotics industrial parks. Yet, challenges remain: humanoid robotics firms like Figure AI lack the clear revenue paths of AI software companies, and Roze's lofty valuation faces skepticism. For Son, these bets are also driven by an unfulfilled promise of massive returns to key investors like Saudi Arabia's PIF. Despite risks, he continues to double down, betting that the fusion of AI and physical machines will define the next technological era.
marsbit2m ago