Bilal Akram, CFA, Applied Tech Analyst| November 18, 2025 |Technology
In the fast-paced world of tech, few stories captivate like SoftBank’s AI revolution. Led by the indomitable Masayoshi Son, SoftBank Group Corp. is ditching yesterday’s wins for tomorrow’s moonshots, pouring billions into artificial intelligence amid a global frenzy. As business news today highlights SoftBank’s record $16.6 billion profit in Q2 FY2025—fueled by AI surges—this pivot isn’t just bold; it’s a high-stakes gamble on humanity’s next leap. If you’re eyeing SoftBank stock or pondering the Vision Fund’s rebound, buckle up: Son’s vision could redefine tech empires.
SoftBank’s AI Revolution: The Grand Vision Under Masayoshi Son
Masayoshi Son, SoftBank’s CEO and a serial visionary, has long chased disruptive bets—from Yahoo Japan to Arm Holdings. Now, he’s all-in on AI, declaring artificial superintelligence (ASI)—10,000 times smarter than the human brain—will arrive by 2035. “The era of human programmers is coming to an end,” Son proclaimed in a 2025 address, envisioning AI as the force that redefines work, happiness, and society over the next 50 years. This isn’t hype; it’s strategy. SoftBank’s AI revolution shifts the conglomerate from telecom giant (hello, SoftBank Mobile) to AI architect, blending its $100 billion+ Vision Fund war chest with hardware muscle.
Son’s playbook? Divest winners to fuel builders. In October 2025, SoftBank cashed out its entire Nvidia stake—32.1 million shares—for a whopping $5.83 billion. No shade on Nvidia’s chip dominance; it’s pure reallocation to own AI’s core, from chips to clouds. SoftBank shares, volatile amid AI bubble jitters, have doubled to ¥2.5 trillion ($16.6 billion) YTD, signaling investor faith.
SoftBank’s AI Revolution: Nvidia Exit, OpenAI Power Play
The Nvidia sale headlines SoftBank’s AI revolution, but the real fireworks? A deepened romance with OpenAI. Fresh off ChatGPT’s global takeover, SoftBank greenlit a $22.5 billion Vision Fund 2 infusion into OpenAI this December, on top of prior commitments. This catapults OpenAI’s valuation skyward, netting SoftBank a $19 billion Vision Fund gain in Q2 alone—its best in four years.
Enter SB OAI Japan, the November 5, 2025, joint venture with OpenAI: a 50-50 powerhouse delivering “Crystal Intelligence”—agentic AI for Japanese enterprises. Targeting sectors like manufacturing and finance, it’s SoftBank’s beachhead for localized AI dominance. First customer? PayPay, SoftBank’s fintech arm, integrating ChatGPT-like tools for seamless ops. This move echoes Son’s mantra: AI isn’t a tool; it’s the new OS for business.
SoftBank’s AI Revolution: Infrastructure and Robotics Buildout
SoftBank’s AI revolution isn’t bets—it’s blueprints. The $6.5 billion Ampere Computing acquisition (announced March 2025, eyeing H2 close despite FTC scrutiny) secures energy-efficient AI chips, rivaling Nvidia’s GPUs for data centers. Then there’s the Stargate Project: a $500 billion, 10-gigawatt AI infrastructure odyssey with OpenAI, Oracle, and MGX. September’s expansion added five U.S. data centers—three Oracle-led in Texas and New Mexico—hitting full commitment by year-end. TSMC’s involvement? SoftBank’s August stake hike in the chip foundry ensures supply chain ironclad for Stargate’s hyperscale needs.
Robotics seals the physical edge. October’s $5.4 billion ABB Robotics buyout—closing mid-2026—merges AI brains with brawny arms for “Physical AI” in factories and logistics. Imagine ABB bots powered by OpenAI models, automating SoftBank Hawks stadium ops or SoftBank Mobile warehouses. It’s Son’s dream: AI that thinks, builds, and scales.
SoftBank’s AI Revolution: Stock Surge and Global Ripples
For investors, SoftBank’s AI revolution spells rebound. The Vision Fund, once battered by WeWork woes, posted ¥3.5 trillion ($23 billion) gains half-year, driven by OpenAI’s $1 trillion infrastructure spree (including a $300 billion Oracle pact). SoftBank share price? Up 120% in 2025, though volatility lingers as AI hype meets reality checks.
Globally, this reshapes tech: Japan leaps in enterprise AI via SB OAI, while Stargate counters U.S.-China tensions with sovereign AI infra. SoftBank Mobile and Hawks? They’re AI enablers now—smarter networks, predictive fan experiences.
Son’s closing words? “All businesses will be redefined as computers overtake humans.” Risky? Absolutely. But in SoftBank’s AI revolution, hesitation isn’t an option—it’s extinction. What’s your play in this silicon saga?
Why Did SoftBank Sell Its $5.83 Billion Nvidia Stake—And What About Its AI Chip Strategy?
SoftBank liquidated its full 32.1 million-share Nvidia position in October 2025, pocketing a 93% gain since 2017, to recycle cash into direct AI plays. It’s not anti-Nvidia; CEO Masayoshi Son sees chips as commoditized, shifting to “own the stack” via AI software and infra. On chips: The $6.5 billion Ampere Computing buy (energy-efficient AI processors) and “Izanagi”—a $100 billion Arm-backed AI chip venture—aim to rival Nvidia in data centers. X users call it “capital rotation,” not a bubble signal—OpenAI will just buy more Nvidia anyway.
How Has SoftBank AI Stock Performed in 2025?
SoftBank Group Corp. ($SFTBY) shares have rocketed 120% YTD to ¥22,695 (~$147), tripling from January lows on AI hype. Q2’s $16.6 billion profit (up 2x YoY) and $19 billion Vision Fund gain from OpenAI’s $500 billion valuation supercharged it. But volatility hit post-Nvidia sale, with a 2% dip Tuesday amid bubble fears. Analysts like Jefferies rate it Outperform ($142 target), tying upside to Stargate’s $500 billion rollout. Reddit threads debate: “AI stock of the year or overleveraged?
What Is the SoftBank Vision Fund, and How’s Its Performance in 2025?
The SoftBank Vision Fund (VF1 launched 2017, VF2 in 2019) is a $200 billion+ war chest backing AI, robotics, and tech unicorns like Uber and DoorDash. In 2025, it’s roaring back: Q2 gains hit $19 billion (¥3.5 trillion), led by OpenAI’s 2.16 trillion yen valuation pop—best quarter in years after WeWork scars. Half-year total: ¥2.9 trillion profit for SoftBank Group. X buzz: “VF’s AI pivot is redemption arc.” Risks? $16 billion debt for new bets.
What’s the Latest on SoftBank AI Investments in November 2025?
Fresh off Q2 earnings, SoftBank’s dropping $22.5 billion more into OpenAI via VF2 (total ~$30-40 billion), plus $5.4 billion for ABB Robotics and Stargate’s five new U.S. data centers with Oracle/TSMC. Nvidia sale + $9.2 billion T-Mobile trim funds it all. SB OAI Japan (Nov 5 launch) targets enterprise AI for ¥1 trillion revenue by 2030. News: Profit doubled to ¥2.5 trillion on AI surge, but Elon Musk tweets “overleveraged.” Searches spike on “SoftBank AI bubble?”—it’s aggressive, not reckless yet.
Where Can I Download SoftBank’s 300-Year Plan PDF?
Masayoshi Son’s epic “300-Year Vision” (from 2010’s “Next 30-Year Vision” presentation) outlines IT revolutionizing humanity: AI as “information revolution” 10,000x faster than industrial era, with SoftBank funding it. Free PDF: Download SoftBank’s official 2010 release here—31 slides on philosophy, from “happiness via tech” to ASI by 2300. Updated in 2025 Group Report: Still guides AI bets, with 400GW data centers needed. Reddit loves the sci-fi slides: “Son’s basically a time traveler.”
Is SoftBank Launching Vision Fund 3 in 2025?
No official VF3 launch yet—focus is VF2’s $40 billion OpenAI syndicate and ad-hoc AI pots. Son hinted at “next phase” in Q2 call, potentially $100-200 billion for ASI infra post-2026, but 2025’s all-in on Stargate ($500 billion) and robotics. X speculation: “VF3 for humanoid AI?” Ties to ABB buy. Watch December’s OpenAI close for clues.
What Is SoftBank Group Corp., and How’s It Evolving in the AI Era?
SoftBank Group Corp. ($9984.TO) is a $100 billion+ Japanese conglomerate: telecom (SoftBank Mobile), investments (Vision Funds), and ventures like Hawks baseball. Under Son (33% owner), it’s pivoting hard to AI: From 2017’s VF1 flops to 2025’s $23 billion half-year gains. Key arms: Arm Holdings (chip design), PayPay (fintech AI), and now Stargate for global compute. FY2025 report: “300-Year Vision” drives it—debt up to ¥16 trillion, but revenue eyed at ¥20 trillion by 2030. Forums ask: “Conglomerate or AI pure-play?” It’s both—and betting big.
Will SoftBank’s AI Bets Trigger a Bubble, Like WeWork?
High risk: $24 billion borrowing for 2025-26, circular deals (VF funds OpenAI, which buys Nvidia), and only 12% AI project success rate. Nvidia sale sparked 2% dip and “bubble fears,” but Q2’s ¥2.9 trillion income says momentum holds. X consensus: “Not bearish—deeper AI dive.” If ASI hits by 2035, jackpot; else, debt crunch.
What’s Next for SoftBank’s Stargate Project and Robotics?
Stargate: $500 billion, 10GW AI data centers with OpenAI/Oracle/TSMC—five U.S. sites by Dec 2025, Arizona hub for $1 trillion scale. Robotics: $5.4 billion ABB arm buy (mid-2026 close) for “Physical AI” in factories, tying to humanoid agents. Son: “1,000 agents per job by 2030.” Searches: “Stargate vs. xAI?”—it’s Japan’s counter to U.S.-China chip wars.
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒖𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒍𝒐𝒃𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝒇𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒔
